International Stand Up to Bullying Day is observed twice a year, on the last Friday of February and the third Friday of November, in more than 25 countries. The next observance will take place on February 27. This day is part of Anti-Bullying Week and aims to create empathy and combat bullying and harassment. Participants typically wear pink "pledge shirts" to publicly demonstrate their stance against bullying and support for victims. The event encourages schools, workplaces, and organizations to recognize and address instances of bullying, which can have lasting psychological effects. It originated from the actions of two students in Nova Scotia who protested against bullying by encouraging their classmates to wear pink shirts in solidarity with a bullied peer.