246 million children, adolescents exposed to violence, bullying in schools annually, UNESCO

CAIRO – 10 August 2022: The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization [UNESCO] revealed that more than 246 million children and adolescents are subjected to violence and bullying in schools annually.

In a press release on its official website, UNESCO said that violence in educational environments is a daily reality that deprives millions of children and youth of the basic human right to education. An estimate by Plan International indicates that 246 million children and adolescents are exposed to violence in and around schools each year. Girls are unacceptably affected, as are those who are perceived to be inconsistent with prevailing sexual and gender norms.

UNESCO emphasized that schools that are unsafe or incubating violate the right to education as enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. It contravenes the Convention against Discrimination in Education, which aims to eliminate discrimination and encourage the adoption of measures that guarantee equal opportunities and treatment.

UNESCO has also stressed that ensuring that all children and young people have access to safe, inclusive and healthy learning environments is a strategic priority for UNESCO.

The organization's statement stated that the main results of UNESCO's work in this area can be summarized first through the elimination of school violence and bullying, including gender-related violence, and by preventing discrimination in the field of health and sex towards learners and teachers.