The Beijing Declaration of 1995 represents a pivotal moment in the global advocacy for gender equality. This landmark declaration, along with the Platform for Action, received endorsement from 189 nations and is now considered the foremost global policy document pertaining to women's rights. The key platforms for action include Women and Poverty; Education and Training of Women; Women and Health; Violence Against Women, Women and Armed Conflict; Women and the Economy.
Others include Women in Power and Decision-Making; Mechanisms for the Advancement of Women, Human Rights of Women and Women and the Media.
Focusing on violence against women and particularly Violence Against Girls in Schools, commonly referred to as School-Related Gender-Based Violence (SRGBV) is a pressing global issue with significant implications for the education and well-being of millions of children worldwide.
November 7 annually, marks the International Day Against School bullying. In Ebonyi State, we examined various forms of school-related gender-based violence, and notably, bullying and verbal abuse emerged as predominant concerns.
Such issues have the potential to increase the rate of school dropout and create learning difficulties, ultimately discouraging parents from enrolling their daughters in school.
In discussions with students at several schools, Uchechi Edoziem, a volunteer with GirlUp Africa, strengthened the discovery that SRGBV is rooted in prevailing gender norms, stereotypes, and the unequal power dynamics that exist between men and women. This form of SRGBV can be perpetrated by students, teachers, and some educational support personnel, who can also find themselves as victims.
In contribution to the International Day Against Bullying, Uchechi outlined several strategies that stakeholders can implement to combat this serious issue. Some of them include raising Awareness aimed at shifting perspectives on the issue and prompting proactive measures; training teachers, educators and other school personnel on how to deliver counseling services and report instances of abuse as well as creating Safe Spaces and environments that prioritize child protection and encourage long-term behavioral change among staff.
No doubt, education plays an essential role in the fight against gender-based violence. The violence faced by girls within educational settings is a form of discrimination that manifests in various forms globally, each with profound implications for girls' education. Both the direct effects on educational opportunities and the broader impact on their enjoyment of other human rights have been documented across numerous national contexts.
Therefore, we prepare for the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW) in 2025, there is an urgent need to begin evaluating instances of school-related gender-based violence
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