Table 4: Policy commitments and international agreements addressing SRGBV

SUPPORT NOTES FOR THE FACILITATOR:

School related gender based violence (SRGBV) SRGBV continues to be prevalent in schools, where learners should be protected and is detrimental to the learning and overall wellbeing of learners all over the world. All learners are at risk and vulnerable to SRGBV, however girls, children with disabilities and other vulnerable groups like children in conflict, emergencies and post conflict situations, are often at higher risk of SRGBV. Many times, SRGBV is under-reported or goes unreported in all contexts, especially for the most vulnerable.

School related gender based violence (SRGBV) is any form of violence or abuse that is based on gender norms and stereotypes and is reinforced through gender roles, relationships and unequal power dynamics. It can be either physical, sexual, economic or psychological/emotional, or combinations of the four. It can take place in the school, on the school grounds, going to and from school or in school dormitories. This violence can be perpetrated by teachers, pupils or community members. Both girls and boys can be victims as well as perpetrators. There are educational, reproductive health and health consequences of SRGBV. (UN WOMEN, 2016; USAID, 2009)

Types of SRGBV

Some types of SRGBV are more common than others. For example, bullying is the most prevalent form of violence in schools, regularly affecting more than one in three students between the ages of 13 and 15 worldwide (UN Women, 2016). One in ten girls under the age of 20 worldwide has experienced sexual violence and high rates of sexual harassment have been reported in many countries. Globally, rates of new HIV infections are highest among adolescent girls and young women between the ages of 15 and 24, compared with other groups based on age and sex. This is particularly true in Sub Saharan Africa . There is some evidence to suggest that girls are more likely to experience sexual violence with boys more likely to experience corporal punishment, or more severe corporal punishment, in school than girls (UNESCO, 2017). Millions of children live in fear of physical abuse under the guise of discipline: more than 80% of students in some countries suffer corporal punishment at school. Additionally, millions of children, whether in remote rural or densely built urban areas, face significant barriers to reach school every day, affecting their attendance. Lack of safety and threats of violence also affect access, particularly for girls. In a study of 7,000 children in 11 countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America, more than one-quarter of girls interviewed reported never or seldom feeling safe on the way to or from school (Plan International, 2014). Marginalized groups are at increased risk. In a survey of 3,706 primary schoolchildren from Uganda, 24% of 11 to 14-year-old girls with disabilities reported sexual violence at school, compared to 12% of non-disabled girls (Devries et al, 2014). Cyber-bullying is a growing concern. Available statistics suggest that the share of children and adolescents globally who are affected by cyberbullying ranges from 5% to 21% (UNESCO. 2017). Below are some examples of types of SRGBV, the list is by no means exhaustive and participants can add to it.

Psychological- This includes: bullying; teasing (including online bullying); verbal harassment, verbal abuse related to puberty, abusive language from teachers; emotional manipulation and exploitation; labeling students lazy or stupid and based on whether they are boys or girls.

Physical- This includes: corporal punishment; child maltreatment (including violent punishment); labor as punishment; exploitive labor; school chores that negatively impact learning or health; hitting, slapping, caning, punching, shaking, choking; forcing to swallow or drink (common with early years); physical assault without weapons or with weapons (such as knives); painful body postures; excessive exercise drills and preventing use of the toilet.

Sexual- This includes: rape, defilement; intimate partner violence; sexual harassment, groping, touching; aiming sexually explicit language at a child; indecent exposure; sexually grooming minors, exposing children to pornographic or age inappropriate material.

Economic- This includes: no school lunches; exploiting others for economic gain e.g. working on the school farm for no pay; property damage, e.g. vandalizing school property and belongings, in conflict, during strikes, and through arson/school fires; restricting access to: financial resources, education etc.