Madam, – On Friday, Mary Robinson appealed to Government not to make further aid cuts, citing the necessity of continuing to support efforts to tackle violence against women and girls in developing countries.
Last week in Malawi, I heard first-hand the horror that many school children in developing countries face. The pervasive nature of abuse and violence within school walls is a story that is all too familiar within our own country. In poor countries, girls are the most vulnerable, often forced to have sex in exchange for good grades. Gender-based violence in schools in its worst form can leave girls as young as 12 pregnant, HIV positive and homeless.
The extent of this abuse was uncovered in recently published Kenyan government report that found 12,660 girls were sexually abused by teachers over a five-year period. In some cases teachers abused 20 girls in a single school before they were reported.
Ensuring that schools are a safe learning environment for boys and girls is a critical and urgent priority. Improving facilities, building separate latrines for boys and girls, involving parents in school committees, training teachers, introducing codes of conduct and holding teachers and communities accountable all work to create a safer school where children can be protected. Concern in Kenya is already partnering with the Kenyan government in some of the poorest areas to roll out these strategies. The problem is the money to support these programmes is not there.
Education is the cornerstone to getting people out of poverty and yet is notoriously underfunded. Programmes that address violence in schools get even less attention.
Every child has a right to quality education in a safe school environment, and protection from harm, abuse and exploitation. Now is not the time to cut back aid, but to increase our work to protect these vulnerable children. – Yours, etc,