Gender-based violence is a major barrier to reducing poverty and enabling people to participate productively and meaningfully in their communities.
In the Indo-Pacific region, gender-based violence is too often tolerated or even perpetuated in and by social institutions, including schools.
School-related gender-based violence prevents children realising their right to education and can have serious physical and psychological effects. It also disproportionately affects girls and women.
According to a recent UNESCO study, Fijian girls reported being sexually blackmailed in return for transport to school and school fees. In Tonga, 41 per cent of female respondents reported receiving 'intentional injuries' at school, physical bullying being the most common cause.
Attacks on girls for going to school have been widely publicised including the kidnapping of over 250 girls from their boarding school in Nigeria in 2014 and the near fatal shooting of education activist Malala Yousafzai by members of the Taliban on a school bus in Pakistan in 2012.
Sadly, many families are faced with a choice of educating their daughters or keeping them safe.
But schools also provide an opportunity to promote non-violence and protect students and the broader community.
Trained teachers can model non-violent discipline to parents. Schools can establish and enforce codes of conduct that protect children from harrassment and abuse.
Educating children on their rights through the curriculum empowers them to uphold those rights and educate others. Schools are also often used as places of refuge in emergencies.
- For example, Australia is working in partnership with governments, multilateral organisations, faith-based organisations and civil society groups to address some of these issues.
- Australia's support for the Children of Uruzgan program has helped to improve the education and health of 300 000 people in remote communities in Afghanistan, particularly women and girls.
- In Uruzgan's Tarin Kowt district, community based education classes were established in remote villages where the closest formal school is too far away for the children to walk safely.
- This makes it easier and safer for children, especially girls, to attend classes.
Australia also supports the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) to help children reach their full potential.
UNICEF works to prevent violence in schools by promoting child-friendly and inclusive schools which protect children through appropriate infrastructure, create awareness of children's rights amongst the school community and have effective school policies and procedures which have children's interests at their centre.
In 2014, Australia supported UNICEF to help 8.6 million children to go to school during humanitarian situations.
A school environment that is safe and secure allows children to learn, play and interact in an open way and helps them reach their full potential.
Providing an education that increases children's ability to participate productively in their community, without fear, is one of the best investments a society can make.
Background
The importance of education in eliminating violence is highlighted by the theme for this year's 16 days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign 'From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World: Make Education Safe for All'.
The 16 days campaign is marked each year by the United Nations, governments and civil society organisations around the world.
This year's theme recognises that millions of girls, boys, young women and men do not realise their right to an education due to violence, lack of resources and discrimination.