Ending school-related gender- based violence
Demonstrating global commitments through local actions
UNESCO A scenario Rita urgently needs to relieve herself. The toilets in her school are damaged and unuseable so the female students usually go in the nearby bushes. A group of boys see Rita going to the bushes and follow her to watch her as she lifts her skirt, without her knowing. Lucas, a friend of the boys, sees what they are doing, but decides not to join them. He returns to class unsure what to say or do.
UNESCO A scenario
UNESCO School-Related Gender-Based Violence (SRGBV) is any act or threat of sexual, physical or psychological violence occurring in and around schools, perpetrated as a result of gender norms and stereotypes, and enforced by unequal power dynamics.
UNESCO UNESCO Some statistics to paint the picture
• 246 million children and adolescents experience school violence and bullying in some form every year (UNESCO 2017, 2019).
• Between 10% to 65% (depending on the country) of children and youth impacted by bullying and school violence (UNESCO 2017).
• Eastern and Southern Africa – 41% of head teachers report pupil-pupil sexual harassment; 39% reported teacher-to- pupil harassment within their school (Saito 2013)
• Over 700 million school-aged children live in countries where they are not fully protected by law from corporal punishment at school (UNICEF 2018).
UNESCO Types of bullying by gender
Girls are more likely to experience psychological bullying, cyber-bullying, sexual violence and harassment. Boys are more likely to experience physical violence and corporal punishment.
UNESCO Bullying of students who are ‘different’
Students who identify as or who are a presumed to be Lesbian, Gay, Transgender, Bisexual or Intersex (LGBT+) often experience heightened rates of violence from teachers and students.
• New Zealand: LGBT+ students were three times more likely to be bullied and transgender students were five times more likely to be bullied than their heterosexual peers
• Norway: 15%-48% of LGBT+ students reported being bullied compared with 7% of heterosexual students
• Thailand: 55% of LGBT+ youth bullied due to their sexual orientation or gender identity was 55%
UNESCO Violence, mental health and risk behaviours
1.7%
UNESCO Violence and learning outcomes
UNESCO 2018
UNESCO Global commitments and goals
Thematic Indicator 4.a2: Percentage of students who experienced bullying during the past 12 months, by sex
UNESCO International investments
• The Spotlight Initiative to eliminate violence against women and girls
• INSPIRE strategies
• O3 Programme
• Safe to Learn Campaign
UNESCO Global guidance
LEADERSHIP: ENVIRONMENT: LAWS, POLICIES ENSURING SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION REFORM ARE SAFE & SUPPORTIVE
PREVENTION: CURRICULUM, RESPONSES: IN AND TEACHING AND LEARNING AROUND SCHOOLS
PARTNERSHIPS: COLLABORATING WITH & EVIDENCE: MONITORING ENGAGING KEY STAKEHOLDERS AND EVALUATION OF SRGBV
UNESCO Local actions: Leadership, laws, policy
LEADERSHIP: LAWS, POLICIES AND EDUCATION REFORM
UNESCO Local actions: Prevention
PREVENTION: CURRICULUM, TEACHING AND LEARNING
UNESCO Local actions: Prevention
• A learning tool for teachers to build their own knowledge and awareness, as well as learning activities teachers can use to increase knowledge, positive attitudes, and skills among students
• Designed for lower secondary school learners; activities can be integrated in a range of subjects, education.
• Topics: Gender and equality Gender equality and positive role models
Awareness of gender-based violence
A focus on school-related gender-based violence
Communication for respectful relationships
Skills for people who witness violence
Help-seeking and peer support skills
UNESCO HELP-SEEKING AND PEER SUPPORT SCENARIO 5 Minh has just started secondary school. On her way to school, a group of older schoolboys follow her, tease her and try to touch her. Everyday she has to walk past this same group of older boys. She is scared to tell anyone in case they think it is her fault. Discuss: Is this serious? Should Minh talk to someone else about this? Who? What might happen if nobody takes action?
UNESCO Global Working Group to end SRGBV
UNESCO Thank you
UNESCO