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New guidance for tackling gender-based violence in schools launched

A whole school framework for preventing and responding to gender-based violence has been launched today by the Scottish Government. It was developed collaboratively by the Gender-Based Violence in Schools Working Group co-chaired by Rape Crisis Scotland, Zero Tolerance and the Scottish Government. This launch of this first ever national approach to tackling gender-based violence in schools is a major step and we hope it will help make schools safer places for every child and young person in Scotland.

The framework brings a much-needed focus on the prevalence of gender-based violence among children and young people and the need for schools to prioritise the issue, the impact of gender-based violence on girls and young women, has an emphasis on preventing gender-based violence before it begins, includes the experiences and voices of children and young people, and takes a child-centred and trauma-informed approach to supporting children and young people who have been affected by gender-based violence. Whilst girls and young women are disproportionately affected by gender-based violence, the guidance also highlights harmful cultures in schools which can also have a negative impact on boys and young men.

Rape Crisis Scotland and our 17 member Rape Crisis Centres are the lead experts in delivering prevention education to young people through the Sexual Violence Prevention Programme, and supporting schools through the Equally Safe at School programme to enable schools to embed a whole school approach to preventing gender-based violence. We’re proud that this guidance builds on our work and will enable schools to prioritise ending gender-based violence in education.

Our work in this area has taught us that young people value having safe spaces to discuss difficult topics around gender-based violence including consent, power, and gender stereotypes. We hope this guidance will help to facilitate more open conversations and safe spaces in school settings.

We worked closely with partner organisations to advocate for this guidance to be produced following the Everyday Heroes consultation which asked children and young people what their priorities were for tackling gender-based violence and inequality. Our thanks go to the children and young people whose recommendations for decisive action have helped to shape this guidance. Our thanks also go to the young people who reviewed the framework as part of youth activism groups.

This framework will enable schools to build on our work, and the work of our partners, and honour the courageous voices of young people who called for change by prioritising tackling gender-based violence. Further support for schools to implement the framework is available through the Scottish Government funded Equally Safe at School programme.

Find out more about the Rape Crisis Scotland prevention programme.

The full guidance is available on the Scottish Government website.