Schools and other education environments are places in which children and young people associate with learning, where they spend a lot of their time, and where they come into contact with responsible adults working in their best interests. Schools and other education environments are therefore well-placed to prevent violence and challenge inequalities and social norms that contribute to violence against women and children.
In line with World Health Organisation policy[i], Equally Safe (2016)[ii] is Scotland’s strategy for the prevention and eradication of violence against women and girls.
The 2017 Equally Safe delivery plan[iii]set out several key priorities actions where education settings can play a crucial role in ‘working towards a Scotland where women and girls live free from all forms of violence and abuse – and the attitudes that help perpetuate them’, including:
- Raising awareness of gender-based violence and abuse
- Challenging gender stereotypes and norms
- Recognising and addressing unconscious bias and gender stereotyping
- Delivering relationships, sexual health and parenting and addressing safe and healthy relationships and consent
- Developing a whole school approach to addressing gender-based violence
Equally Safe is supported by and links to several key education policies including Curriculum for Excellence, Getting it Right for Every Child (GIRFEC) framework, Included, Engaged and Involved Part 2 and is underpinned by a children’s rights perspective.
[i] https://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/publications/violence/IPV-SV.pdf?ua=1
[ii] https://www.gov.scot/publications/equally-safe-scotlands-strategy-prevent-eradicate-violence-against-women-girls/
[iii] https://www.gov.scot/publications/equally-safe-delivery-plan-scotlands-strategy-prevent-violence-against-women/
