Minister brief: Education

The education sector’s role in ending sexual violence against children and adolescents

1. Make bold ministerial commitments to end sexual violence against children and adolescents

Use the Out of the Shadows Index (‘The Index’) findings to understand how your country can protect children and adolescents from violence. Commit to: 

• Mandate life-skills-based sexuality and reproductive health education in lower secondary schools, which includes information about recognizing and seeking help for child sexual abuse
•  Ensure the curriculum covers online safety and the risks of sexual violence through digital technologies
•  Ensure corporal punishment is banned in all settings, including all schools
• Mandate background checks for people working with children and adolescents, including school personnel. 

2. Education plays a powerful role in preventing sexual violence

Children spend a significant part of their lives in education settings, giving schools a unique opportunity to reach them with prevention information and support. Life-skills-based sexuality education can help children and adolescents recognize sexual violence and know how and where to seek help. 

The rapid expansion of digital technologies has also changed the landscape of sexual violence against children. Education systems, therefore, have a critical role in equipping children with knowledge and skills to recognize different forms of technology-facilitated sexual violence, stay safe online, and seek help when needed. 

3. Education Ministers are uniquely positioned to act

Education Ministers can make prevention and protection from sexual violence part of the education system. Ministers can ensure that every child is prepared to recognize sexual violence and seek help, every person working with children in schools is appropriately screened, and every school operates in an environment where violence is prohibited. The education sector should work in coordination with health and child protection sectors, linking young people to youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services and to safe referral pathways.