Ideally, school should be a place where dreams can flourish. Yet, threats of gender-based violence still loom above millions of children and youth, urging a better understanding and response mechanism to the issue.

School-related Gender-based Violence

Gender-based violence (GBV) refers to harmful acts done against a person based on the gender socially ascribed to them. It includes acts of harming someone physically, sexually, or mentally, as well as threats of such acts and other deprivations of human rights. Although GBV generally can affect men and women, women are disproportionately affected due to the unequal power relations that result in discrimination.

Unfortunately, the education sphere is not immune to this. UN Women and UNESCO state that more than 246 million children are subjected to GBV in school—a place that is supposed to help create and shape students to thrive in society. Bullying is the most prevalent form of school-related gender-based violence (SRGBV), affecting one in three students aged 13–15 globally. 

Moreover, SRGBV can occur beyond school grounds, including on the way to school and online through social media. UNICEF further notes that SRGBV differs across gender identity and country. For instance, girls are most vulnerable to psychological bullying, cyber-bullying, and sexual abuse. Meanwhile, boys often face more severe physical punishments. Students whose appearance and behavior do not fit into traditional gender norms are also at high risk of violence.

Long-term Consequences

SRGBV violates children’s rights to a safe, quality, and inclusive education. The consequences are wide-ranging, influencing students’ physical and mental wellbeing, school performance, and vulnerability against future threats.

In a survey, UNESCO gathered the stories from survivors of SRGBV, who reported negative feelings towards school after their traumatic experience. One survivor described going to school as mentally draining due to the fear of being bullied and humiliated again. The constant anxiety of having to think ahead and be cautious affects their school grades and leaves them exhausted. 

Emotionally, these survivors also have to deal with long-term feelings of isolation and low self-esteem, which can discourage them from forming connections and participating in society at large. Without accelerated interventions, the prevalence of gender-based violence in the education sector will set back the existing efforts to foster a more inclusive education for all.

Urgent Actions Needed

Arriving at a state where children and young people can obtain education in a safe and inclusive environment means eliminating threats to gender-based violence. 

At the national level, issues on SRGBV must be incorporated into national policies and action plans, with an emphasis on prevention, response and mitigation, and accountability. Enforcing regulations that enable gender-responsive solutions demonstrates governments’ leadership in addressing the issue and should compel stakeholders in the education sector to take action as well.

Education itself plays a key role in cultivating values of respect, diversity, and equality that are vital to address the root causes of violence. Therefore, dedicating time and energy to raising awareness among students and education staff about gender-based violence as an urgent issue should be done at the school level. This includes creating curricula on violence prevention and gender equality, training staff in preventing and responding to SRGBV, and establishing safe spaces for dialogue and participation among students and communities.

Furthermore, the existence of a proper response mechanism to SRGBV cannot be overlooked. Schools and other actors in education must work together to establish confidential reporting mechanisms, healthcare services, and legal help that are accessible and child-sensitive. This will require robust coordination across all levels to understand perspectives, solve constraints, and build capacity to address the complex issue of GBV.

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