School Sexual Violence: Taskforce Action Needed
- Education ministers from 11 countries have launched a Ministerial Taskforce dedicated to ending violence in and around schools.
- The taskforce is prioritizing the prohibition of corporal punishment in schools.
- School-related sexual violence (SRSV) affects all children,though girls are disproportionately impacted.
A Ministerial Taskforce is urgently tackling school violence, with a strong focus on protecting children from school-related sexual violence (SRSV). This taskforce, stemming from a global commitment in Bogotá, will prioritize prohibiting corporal punishment while addressing the critical need to combat SRSV, including online abuses like the nonconsensual sharing of intimate photos. News Directory 3 reports on the critical need to address the widespread nature of SRSV, which disproportionately affects girls, LGBT, and nonbinary children, often in silence. Strategies must be implemented to ensure accountability and provide survivors with access to justice. Discover what’s next as the taskforce develops national strategies.
Ministerial Taskforce Tackles School Violence, Prioritizes Child Protection
Updated May 20, 2025
Education ministers from 11 countries have launched a Ministerial Taskforce dedicated to ending violence in and around schools. This initiative follows a global conference in Bogotá, colombia, where governments and civil society pledged to safeguard children from all forms of violence and protect children from school-related sexual violence (SRSV).
The taskforce is prioritizing the prohibition of corporal punishment in schools. It is also being urged to address school-related sexual violence (SRSV), which includes rape, sexual abuse, coercion, harassment, and the nonconsensual sharing of intimate photos, including online sexual violence.
School-related sexual violence (SRSV) affects all children,though girls are disproportionately impacted. Boys, LGBT, and nonbinary children also experience SRSV, often in silence due to stigma. Access to justice for survivors remains a critical issue.
Over 200 organizations, including Human Rights Watch, previously called on governments to address SRSV wiht urgency. The taskforce is expected to acknowledge the widespread nature of SRSV, end impunity, and adopt evidence-based prevention measures.
What’s next
Countries involved in the taskforce are expected to develop national strategies to prevent and tackle school-related sexual violence (SRSV), allocate sufficient funding, and strengthen accountability within their educational institutions.