Girls Congress continues its work on addressing School-Related Gender-Based Violence (SRGBV) through youth-led research, advocacy, and community engagement initiatives in the Philippines. Over the past few years, the organisation has conducted rollout activities and action research in 3 select schools in Dumaguete and Canlaon to better understand the realities of SRGBV experienced by learners and school communities.
The initiative examines issues such as gender-based discriminations, sexual harassment, bullying, harmful gender norms, and other forms of violence that affect safety, participation, and well-being of learners, particularly girls and young people in vulnerable situations. Through this participatory action research, Girls Congress aims to generate community-based evidence that can help inform more responsive prevention mechanisms and youth-centered interventions within schools.
As part of strengthening grassroots prevention efforts, Girls Congress organised a two-day Training of Trainers (TOT) from April 11-12 with select student volunteers from various schools in Dumaguete. The training focused on SRGBV and Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE), equipping young individuals with knowledge, facilitation, and research skills to support peer education and community-based awareness initiatives. The training served as one of the organisation’s continuing efforts to build longitudinal data on the manifestations of SRGBV in the city – which would help assess shifts and emerging insights for ongoing advocacy efforts informed by the participatory action research.
Recognising the role of Comprehensive Sexuality Education in creating safer and more inclusive learning environments for all, Girls Congress continues to integrate CSE within its SRGBV prevention initiatives. In 2025, the Girls Congress also led an online awareness campaign on CSE through platforms like Facebook and Instagram to encourage conversations among young people and advocate for accessible, rights-based sexuality education.
Christine Tano is the CSE Lead at Girls Congress, Philippines. It is a non-hierarchical and young women-led, all-women organisation focused on feminist education, research, and leadership development.