School-related gender-based violence. SRGBV. Now that is a mouthful. So what is this exactly? SRGBV refers to acts of physical, sexual, or psychological violence inflicted on children in and around schools, usually due to gender stereotypes. It can take several forms, including but not limited to intimidation, punishment, bullying, harassment, sexual abuse, and exploitation. Imagine a world in which you can learn without fear. Now that is an easy one. Canada is by no means perfect, but our schools are safer than in much of the world, including areas of sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. But this should be a given for everyone, no questions asked. Learning Without Fear is a campaign UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) launched with the intention of creating a safe learning environment for both girls and boys, which involves the implementation of national policies. This is the first official resolution addressing SRGBV, which fifty-eight countries signed at the executive board meeting on April 16. “It is clear that school-related gender-based violence is creating a dangerous learning environment for children all over the world,” said Irina Bokova, the Director General of UNESCO. “Schools should be a safe haven for young people, especially for those in marginalised and conflict-affected countries.”
Remember being ten years old? Remember playing with toys as a child? Who am I kidding: we are all engineers, and I am sure we used to take things apart as children. (Although not going to lie, I preferred to read for hours on end). Remember playing pretend, hide and seek, and lava tag? Our biggest concern was being held up at the dinner table until we finished our broccoli, and having to complete our multiplication worksheet in less time than it took yesterday. Now imagine a world much different than our own. Where ten year olds would give anything to be doing our multiplication worksheets, and instead are subjected to violence, often disguised as corporal punishment. So many are scared to go to school. Oftentimes teachers are the inflicters of sexual harassment, and threaten students with low marks if they do not consent. I agree with what one Ugandan school girl said: “Our teachers should be there to teach us and not to touch us.”
Imagine a world where children are trafficked rather than sent to school. Forget being kidnapped and sold by strangers: your own family members turn against you. But you love your father; you look up to your older sister. So you hold onto hope. This will all be over soon. Just be patient. Just obey. But it continues. Adolescent girls are more likely to face SRGBV, and to be deprived of the chance to go to school, so let us digress. Because I Am a Girl is a related initiative, this one launched by Plan International, which supports a girl’s right to receive a quality education.
Receiving at least a quality elementary and high school education makes a girl less likely to be subjected to violence or married young, and more likely to know her rights and stand up for change. “There is no tool for development more effective than the education of girls”, said former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. An educated girl is more likely to grow up to raise her family to be strong. Sixty-two million girls around the world are out of school, and every single one of them has the potential to make a difference. Every single of them deserves a chance to learn, without fear or under threat of violence, sexual or other.
Education is a platform for change, and no one should be denied this basic human right. This cycle begs to be broken, and raising awareness is the first step.
Leave a Reply