Safe to Learn: A Breakthrough Approach to Ending Violence Against Children through Safe and Enabling Schools
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Session Summary
Safe to Learn partners are driving the global effort to make every school a safe, inclusive, and enabling place for children to learn. This session will spotlight how data and evidence can transform political pledges into real progress on ending violence in and around schools.
The newly launched CGD Data Hub for School-Related Violence offers a global repository of key surveys. Country presentations and case studies—featuring data collection efforts by Together for Girls—will highlight how stronger data can drive national strategies, enhance protection systems, and ultimately reduce violence in schools. The panel will bring together experts and government leaders to share practical tools, highlight cross-sector solutions linking education and child protection, and explore how evidence-driven approaches can strengthen systems and deliver on global commitments to keep children safe to learn.
Related Resources
Speakers
Moderator: Kristen Hansen, Partnerships & Reporting Specialist, Safe to Learn
Speaker: Gabriela Smarelli, Center for Global Development
Speaker: Dr. Manuela Balliet Ahogo, Deputy Director, Data to Action, Together for Girls
Speaker: Dr. Mohammed Meqdady, Secretary General of the National Council for Family Affairs, Jordan
Speaker: Stella Ayo-Odongo, Coalition for Good Schools
Session Aims
- Share practical tools that link data, diagnostics, and systems strengthening to address VIS
- Integrate practice with policy to drive action
- Highlight collaborative, cross-sector solutions across education and child protection
- Maximize impact through multisector collaboration
- Engage stakeholders in dialogue on how to progress towards pledges on safe schools at VAC Ministerial Conference
- Foster a learning community
Expected Resources
- Highlights of data-driven approaches to ending violence in and around schools, including the use of tools such as the CGD Data Hub for School-related Violence and the Safe to Learn Diagnostic Tool.
- Country case studies illustrating how evidence-informed strategies can drive systemic change and reduce school-related violence.
- Reflections on barriers and enablers to implementing VAC Ministerial pledges, as identified by speakers and audience members during the discussion.
- Recommendations for policymakers and practitioners on integrating child protection into education systems.
- Future Safe to Learn advocacy briefs and technical guidance.
- ISPCAN learning resources and global campaigns to strengthen multi-sector collaboration on school safety.
- Capacity-building efforts within national education and child protection systems, through webinars or follow-up workshops engaging country-level stakeholders.
