皇家华人

A collaboration between the UCL Institution of Education, UNICEF and governments in Africa is implementing policies and action plans to tackle gender-based violence in schools in Africa.

Young people听in many parts of the world face听physical, sexual and psychological violence听in听and around what should be听a听safe space:听school.听

鈥淪tudies听show听that social听inequalities,听cultural听norms, exclusions and stigma听contribute to听the听prevalence听of school-related gender-based violence (SRGBV) in Africa, but evidence听that points to听ways to tackle the problem听has听been lacking,鈥澨齭ays Professor Jenny Parkes听(UCL Institute of Education, IOE).听

As part of an initiative led by UNICEF,听Professor Parkes established a collaborative听team to听collate the听evidence听needed to address听the issue.听Colleagues听in the听IOE听worked with听educational organisations听and governments in听C么te d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Togo听and Zambia.听

鈥�鈥淏y collating this much-needed evidence, we are convincing governments to take action to听tackle听gender-based violence in schools.鈥澨�

鈥淲e听set out to build听effective听partnerships听to听combine research, capacity building and knowledge exchange,听to bring about changes in policy and practice at a national,听district and local level,鈥澨齟xplains Professor听Parkes.听

The team听scoped out听what policies and practices were already in place to protect young people from violence at school听and identify gaps,听and then went on to develop a framework to strengthen national action on SRGBV.听

The framework can be applied in any country setting and听is helping听in-country teams听collate evidence on prevalence听and patterns of SRGBV and develop听policies and plans,听structures,听partnerships听and听teaching methods for prevention.听

鈥淏y collating this听much-needed听evidence, we are听convincing听governments听to take action to听tackle听gender-based violence in schools,鈥澨齭he adds.听