New SBCC Resource Collection on School-Related Gender-based Violence

School Related Gender-Based Violence (SRGBV) is defined as acts or threats of sexual, physical or psychological violence occurring in and around schools, perpetrated as a result of social norms and gender stereotypes, and enforced by unequal power dynamics. It also refers to the differences between girls’ and boys’ experiences of and vulnerabilities to violence.

This drawing of a school was made by girls in Zimbabwe, on which they have placed green and red stickers. Green stickers indicate places where they feel safe, red stickers where they feel at risk. Source: University of Sussex

An estimated 246 million girls and boys are harassed and abused in and around school every year. Girls are particularly vulnerable to school-related gender-based violence (SRGBV), which often stems from deeply rooted cultural beliefs and practices, power imbalances and gender norms. SRGBV is a human rights issue and an education issue: a violation of human rights and a serious barrier to learning.  The physical health consequences of forced sex include exposure to sexually transmitted diseases as well as unwanted conception, high-risk adolescent pregnancy and childbirth, and unsafe abortions.

The extent to which children are exposed to school‐related gender‐based violence (SRGBV) was brought to the attention of the international community by two studies commissioned by the United Nations Secretary‐General in the past decade: the Global Study on Violence against Children and the In‐depth Study on All Forms of Violence against Women, both published in 2006.

The Health COMpass’ latest Trending Topic covers this issue and provides a selection of proven tools and project materials designed to address the issue of school-related gender-based violence.