A safe place? Tackling sexual violence in the education sector

Schools and universities are vital to the prevention of sexual violence. They are places where students learn values and so can reinforce or break this vicious cycle. Sexual violence within the education sector itself is also a neglected problem. A report from The Panos Institute, London, recommends multi-level strategies to tackle these issues.

Sexual, physical and psychological violence causes as much ill health and death among women as cancer. Girls and young women suffer much higher levels of sexual violence than men, reflecting broader gender inequalities in society. Their experiences range from harassment to rape and lead directly to:

• violations of human rights
• HIV and other sexually-transmitted infections
• unintended pregnancies
• psychological damage
• other health problems
• failure to achieve educational potential.

Schools, universities and higher education institutions are a key, but underused, resource for combating sexual violence in the wider society, because:

• they are already in the front line of sexuality and HIV education
• they are respected by the community
• they can set standards of conduct that will continue into the wider world.

The education sector must also respond to the neglected problem of harassment and violence within schools and universities themselves. Often it involves peers, but teachers and other staff are also responsible for the acts. Addressing sexual violence within education institutions will help to close the gender gap in education. Tackling this issue in secondary and primary schools is complex, due to the age range of students and the professional responsibilities and power held by teachers. Systemic change is needed, alongside curricular approaches.

Addressing sexual violence against young women lies at the intersection of public health, human rights and education. Interventions in the education sector tend to be isolated but multi-level changes would be more effective. The report recommends that the education sector should tackle sexual violence by:

• dealing with it effectively when it occurs
• examining the attitudes and experiences of staff
• ensuring that curricular and extra-curricular opportunities equip young people to navigate their sexual lives without violence
• incorporating age-appropriate educational initiatives into life skills, sexuality and HIV/AIDS education and the broader curriculum
• raise concepts such as equality and rights within the context of promoting respectful, loving relationships, or within conflict-resolution and anti-bullying strategies.

Source(s):
‘Beyond victims and villains: addressing sexual violence in the education sector’ The Panos Institute, London by Judith Mirsky, 2003 Full document.

Funded by: UK Department for International Development

id21 Research Highlight: 16 October 2004

Further Information:
Judith Mirsky
The Reproductive Health and Gender Programme
The Panos Institute
9 White Lion Street
London N1 9PD
UK

Tel: 020 7299 4763
Fax: 020 7278 0345
Contact the contributor: judym@panoslondon.org.uk

Panos Institute, UK

Contact the contributor: judy.mirsky@lshtm.ac.uk

Other related links:
'Progress to gender equality in education'

'Violent response: protecting African schoolgirls from sexual abuse'

'Violence against women: what do we want to teach our teachers?'

'Criminal justice? Tackling sexual abuse in schools'

'The sugar daddy trap. Peer pressure pushes girls into sex'

'Violence and Discrimination Against Children in Schools' - Human Rights Watch

'How has sexual violence infiltrated the education sector?' - Association for Womens Rights in Development