Making the case for preventing violence in schools, with Safe to Learn
Alongside the Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children’s Safe to Learn initiative, we recently co-hosted the Together to #ENDviolence event:
Over 200 participants from around the world convened for the event, which marked the official launch of the Coalition for Good Schools. The event shined a light on the magnitude of violence against children in and around schools – and provided guidance towards building momentum for safer learning environments, globally.
Attendees heard the voices of global leaders like Coalition co-founding member and HakiElimu Executive Director, John Kalage. Plus critical allies weighed in from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, the World Bank, the Global Partnership for Education, and the UK FCDO.
“When we elevate and amplify the voices of practitioners in the Global South, we are more likely to arrive at solutions that are sustainable, and which work better for all.”
John Kalage, Coalition for Good Schools
The speakers explored how schools can be used as a unique entry point to prevent violence. They outlined key advocacy strategies, partnerships, and messaging for making sufficient investment in creating violence-free schools. And they stressed the importance of listening to voices from the Global South in leading this agenda.
“Violence against children is a complex problem, and our response to it must be strategic… schools offer a natural opportunity to prevent violence against children.”
Dipak Naker, Coalition for Good Schools
Quentin Wodon from The World Bank presented the investment case for funding interventions to address violence against children in and through schools. Wodon made clear that it’s cost-effective to prevent violence against children in schools, as it will pay off multiple times in terms of what we invest in children. Read his full investment case here.
“Violence in schools does not operate in a vacuum… it appears in the community, and what happens in the home has an effect… we need interventions that are broader, that involve the whole school, but also the parents and community.”
Quentin Wodon, The World Bank
Attendees left the event with a deeper understanding of the issue of violence against children in schools. And more importantly, of the need to prioritize this issue.