Plan leads the way at the International Conference on Violence in Schools

In April, Plan experts presented eight studies at the 5th International Conference on Violence in Schools in Argentina.

Each of the studies explored how and why sexual, physical or emotional violence against children continues to be a problem in schools, and proposes solutions to end this violence. One of these showed that up to 45% of girls had experienced sexual harassment or violence while in school.

The conference was attended by more than 500 people, from more than 40 countries. It included more than 200 lectures in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish in nine parallel sessions. Plan was the most represented organisation, showing our global expertise on the issue of violence in schools. The next World Conference will take place in Japan 2013.

Plan International’s global research coordinator remarked: "This is clearly the world's largest conference on school violence. Back in　Portugal 2008, I was the only one from Plan presenting our good work. It makes me feel very proud that the conference committee selected eight Plan projects this year. We are serious about keeping Learn Without Fear as an evidence-based campaign, and we will start thinking about what we are going to present in Japan 2013."

The studies presented by Plan were well received and have led to some exciting opportunities, such as:

The International Observatory on Violence in Schools is a useful resource leading to curbing the menace of corporal punishment and bullying in schools. Plan Pakistan used the conference to create between their government and the observatory, and we now expect to make Pakistan part of the International Observatory on Violence in Schools.

There has been follow up from Argentinean policy researchers who are now looking to implement our Learn Without Fear programmes in Argentina, where Plan does not currently work.

The Plan presentations have now been shared on an international online programme on school violence.

The Public Safety department, a division of the Government of Chile, have been in touch to ask about ways to implement some of the ideas put forward by Plan about how to eliminate violence against children in schools.