Plan UN event highlights best practice to tackle sexual violence

Plan highlighted its global Learn Without Fear campaign to end violence in schools

11 March 2010:  Plan and partners organised a side event ‘No one to turn to - Ending sexual violence at home and in school’ at the 13th Human Rights Council session.

The event was sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign affairs of Norway, and Ms. Marta Santos Pais, the UN Special Representative on Violence Against Children, was one of the panelists discussing the topic.

Plan had 2 speakers presenting at the same panel with Ms. Santos Pais. Anastasie Koudoh, Plan’s regional coordinator in West Africa and Abigail, a 17-year-old senior high school student and Plan’s child rights ambassador in Ghana.

Best practices

Ms. Koudoh reminded the audience of the many causes leading to sexual violence in schools as well as the best practices to combat the problem. According to the experience gained in West Africa, investment in quality education, societal change, improved research around the topic, and capacity building are at the heart of tackling the problem. 

Abigail, the only child present in the event, identified ignorance as the fundamental cause of sexual violence against girls. According to her, the fact that many girls do not know about the effects of sexual violence - and the difficulty for many children to fend for themselves or secure their basic needs - lead many children to sexual activities. Also the lack of law enforcement and the non-punishment of perpetrators lead people to view sexual violence as a norm in daily activities.

Learn Without Fear

 A film ’Learn Without Fear - Sexual violence’ was presented as an introduction to the difficult topic. Its message reinforced the need to further highlight the problem. Although the family and school settings are often perceived as having the greatest potential to protect children, every year many children become victims of sexual violence, often perpetrated by people who are responsible for their care and protection.

Find out more about Plan’s work at the HRC.

Join Plan’s global Learn Without Fear campaign to end violence in schools.