GBV is never acceptable

 

By Eleazer T Tsvangirai

Form 4 student Starbright Academy

 

Gender-based violence (GBV) is a severe human rights violation and a grave injustice. It’s crucial to recognize that GBV is never acceptable and must be addressed with urgency and collective action.

GBV includes physical, emotional, sexual, and economic abuse, as well as harmful practices like female genital mutilation and child marriage. It affects individuals of all genders, but disproportionately impacts women and non-binary individuals.

As students we should learn to respect each other and support victims to create a safe and fair school setting for all. Respect and equality are core values. Speaking out should ensure that victims are supported and kindness is fostered. Counsellors should promote equality, support victims and educate against gender based violence. Educational campaigns on gender based violence should be done more regularly and legal enforcement should be made strict. As communities there is need for community centers that are victim friendly units for gender based violence survivors .

To combat Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in schools, we must:

  1. Implement comprehensive sexuality education that includes healthy relationships, consent, and gender equality.
  2. Develop and enforce policies and protocols for reporting and responding to GBV incidents.
  3. Provide training and resources for teachers, staff, and students to recognize and address GBV.
  4. Foster a safe and inclusive school environment that promotes respect and empathy.
  5. Encourage student participation and leadership in GBV prevention efforts.
  6. Engage parents and the wider community in GBV awareness and prevention.
  7. Ensure access to counseling and support services for survivors of GBV.
  8. Address and challenge harmful gender stereotypes and societal norms.
  9. Incorporate GBV prevention into curricula and extracurricular activities.
  10. Conduct regular assessments and evaluations to ensure effectiveness and continuous improvement.

By taking these steps, we can create a safe and supportive learning environment for all students, free from GBV and discrimination.

#EndGBVinSchools  #SafeSchoolsForAll  #TimeToAct