By Kate Jere

Education is critical in empowering and transforming the lives of young people yet a new policy paper by the EFA Global Monitoring Report, UNESCO and UNGEI argues that school-related gender-based violence is preventing millions of children, especially girls, from exercising their right to a safe and inclusive education of good quality.

School-related gender-based violence (SRGBV) encompasses sexual, physical and psychological violence occurring at school and on the journey to and from school. It is violence that is perpetrated as a result of gender stereotyping, discriminatory practices and unequal gender relations. It includes explicit threats or acts of physical violence, bullying, verbal or sexual harassment, non-consensual touching, sexual coercion and assault, and rape. Corporal punishment and discipline in schools often manifest in highly gendered ways. And unprecedented access to information and communications technology has resulted in new forms of intimidation, cyberbullying and sexual harassment.

Violence in school affects learning for both girls and boys

While boys and girls can be both victims and perpetrators of SRGBV, girls are often at greater risk of sexual violence, whilst boys are often more exposed to corporal punishment and bullying. Teachers and school staff -important partners addressing SRGBV - can also be perpetrators, in some cases acting with impunity.  Poorly enforced legislation, inadequate child protection policies and weak or non-existent reporting mechanisms all increase children's vulnerability to SRGBV.

SRGBV has serious consequences for children's physical and mental health and well-being. It has been shown to adversely impact learning, school attendance and completion. New analysis presented in our paper shows that bullying affects boys' and girls' ability to master basic numeracy skills.

School-related gender-based violence: Global overview research report

Извор: WUNRN – 04.06.2015