International Conference on Inequity in Education

Abstract

Violence against children (VAC) is a global public health concern, particularly prevalent in areas of conflict and protracted crisis. Globally, an estimated 50% of children experience some form of physical, sexual or emotional violence every year. Children in conflict-and crisis affected (CAC) settings are at higher risk of violence due to exposure to violent attacks on schools and other traumatic events, increased mental health distress, widespread insecurity, and changes in household composition and gender norms. Schools hold a unique position of influence and can contribute to conflict, manipulation of students and radicalisation or act as drivers of safety and peacebuilding. Despite the heightened risk of school-based violence in CAC settings, schools remain an important avenue for protection, prevention and response and one of the few environments where children can rebuild a sense of normality and recover from trauma. Schools, therefore, offer a potential cost-effective opportunity to mitigate the effects of violence and trauma experienced elsewhere.

This paper examines the role of schools in preventing and responding to interpersonal violence in CAC contexts. While there is limited but growing evidence on the effectiveness of school-based interventions globally, few have been tested in CAC settings. Furthermore, little is known about the essential components and critical mechanisms of impact of successful and cost-effective interventions.
This study synthesises the research evidence on education interventions and approaches that have demonstrated promising impacts on school safety in CAC contexts. It highlights what works, how it works for children affected by conflict and other crises. Out of an initial scope of 600 articles and reports, we identified 16 school safety interventions in conflict and crisis contexts. These include mental health and psychosocial support, approaches based on socio-emotional learning principles, social norms change programmes and interventions focused on engaging communities and empowering children to recognise abuse. We identify limitations in the quality of study designs as well as in the effectiveness, sustainability and cost-effectiveness of the interventions examined. Key challenges include inadequate or absent measurement of safety outcomes, failure to address the root causes of violence and stress factors, and limited inclusion of vulnerable groups. While several interventions improve wellbeing and other intended outcomes, few are shown to be effective in reducing levels of violence and improving safety. There is a need for impact evaluation research that measures violence using validated tools and examines the mechanisms of action of interventions, including well-articulated goals and hypothesised pathways for reducing violence.