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The first-ever Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence against Children takes place in Bogota, Colombia on 7 and 8 November 2024. Education International is the voice of teachers in this critical meeting that brings together governments, children, young people, survivor, and civil society allies to unite behind a shared vision of putting a stop to all forms of violence against children.

“Half of the world’s children experience violence and global efforts to put an end to it are falling short. Urgent and decisive action is imperative. Educators everywhere welcome this new push to accelerate progress towards a world free from violence against children. We are determined to continue our work to end school-related gender-based violence and call on all governments to prioritise action to prevent and respond to violence against children everywhere. Educators are your allies in this essential mission”, stressed Haldis Holst, Education International Deputy General Secretary.

The Global Ministerial Conference is convened by the Government of Colombia, with the support of the Government of Sweden, UNICEF, the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children, and the World Health Organization. This Ministerial Conference will drive policy change, marshal resources, and demonstrate that violence prevention is possible.

Teachers critical to fostering safe learning environments

On 6 November, ahead of the Global Ministerial Conference, Education International participated in the Safe to Learn Coalition satellite event entitled Ending violence is education's business too. Co-convened by UNESCO, UNICEF, the Coalition for Good Schools, and the Safe to Learn Secretariat, the event aims to galvanise cross-sectoral partnerships to end violence in and through education.

Speaking in the panel on “Sharing solutions: Effective school-based strategies to end violence against children in and through education”, Gina Pancorbo - Education International Research, Policy, and Advocacy Coordinator - highlighted the work undertaken by teachers and their unions to address school-related violence and their role in fostering safe learning environments.

Pancorbo emphasized that it is impossible to “design effective policies or programmes to combat violence and discrimination without directly involving teachers, educational support staff, and their unions. Teachers and their unions must have a genuine seat at the decision-making table, especially in discussions on addressing violence in and around schools. They are indispensable partners in policymaking because they offer valuable insights from the front lines; they connect with students daily and deeply understand the realities within our classrooms, often in challenging environments. Their expertise and experience are critical to implementing meaningful change. Any education reforms that fail to secure teachers' support are unlikely to succeed.”

Educators need support to effect change

Pancorbo warned that a UNESCO study revealed that only half of teachers surveyed felt prepared to intervene when acts of violence happen in schools, and that teachers feel they do not have enough support to react in these situations. The same study showed that only one third of teachers felt they had received sufficient training on how to prevent and address school violence. Unions play a key role in facilitating training activities among their members so that teachers discuss the challenges they experience and are prepared to address violence in schools. According to an Education International survey, 60% of unions are already working on diverse initiatives to address gender-based violence, educating their members, raising awareness, and organising campaigns.

In addition, education unions in Africa have mobilised to end school-related gender-based violence (SRGBV) in an ambitious large-scale project with support from Education International, UNGEI, and Gender at Work. The project continued during the Covid-19 pandemic with in person and online meetings. Coming together in learning circles, teachers discussed how SRGBV was affecting their union members and students in the context of school closures and re-openings. The meetings supported union leaders to identify new strategies to address these challenges. By adopting the feminist principles of active listening, respect, ownership and mutual trust, the learning circles enabled teachers to discuss the difficult topics of bullying, harassment, corporal punishment or sexual assault in a safe environment and find solutions collectively.

In 2024, Education International’s Africa Regional Office relaunched its campaign to eradicate school-related gender-based violence and ensure safe and inclusive learning environments for all teachers and students.

However, despite their commitment, teachers’ potential to effect change in their schools is often limited by barriers such as undemocratic regimes, wars and conflicts, pressures from far-right movements, unsupportive school leadership, pressures to deliver curricula alongside other administrative duties, limited scope for professional development and growth, poor working conditions, and separation from family and friends in rural posts.

Severe teacher shortages also make it challenging for teachers to fulfill their roles as agents of social change. In Africa, over 90% of schools face critical teaching shortages, leaving teachers overworked, overwhelmed, and managing unreasonably large class sizes.

To effectively support students' well-being and social-emotional learning, teachers themselves need to be well-supported. Governments must prioritise the holistic well-being of teachers by addressing issues like education underfunding, teacher shortage, work overload, discrimination, workplace violence, and unsafe conditions.

Ensuring a safe working environment for women in education is essential, which includes ratifying and fully implementing the International Labour Organization Convention 190 and Recommendation 206 which focus on the right to a workplace free from violence and harassment, including gender-based violence.

As part of its cooperation with the Global Working Group to End School-Related Gender-Based Violence, Education International also signed an open letter to the Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence against Children, calling on Ministers to take urgent action to prevent and respond to sexual violence in education settings. Click here to read the open letter and add your name to the global call.