Global Study on Violence Against Children In and Around Schools

A decade has passed since the results from the United Nation’s Secretary General’s Study on Violence Against Children were presented in 2006. More than three years had been dedicated to this global effort to paint a detailed picture of the nature, extent and causes of violence against children – involving numerous stakeholders and children themselves in the process.

Schools have the responsibility to promote development and education, in a child-friendly and safe environment. Schools have the potential to provide an ideal arena to break patterns of violence, by promoting skills to resolve conflict and contributing to long-term educational attainment. The present study, commissioned by Save the Children Sweden with generous financial support from the IKEA foundation, wishes to shed additional light on violence against children and its particular effects on children’s possibilities to feel safe, learn and develop – in schools and beyond.

The purpose of the study was to explore the extent and consequences of violence against children, in and around the school environment and children’s ability to enroll, attend and learn in school. The three in-depth country studies of China, Indonesia and Rwanda were preceded by a global literature review and a review of violence reduction intervention evaluations. Study findings on prevalence, consequences, risk and protective factors – and recommendations based on these findings – will guide forthcoming Violence Free School programmes.