Safe to Learn: A Breakthrough Approach to Ending Violence Against Children through Safe and Enabling Schools

Presented By:

Safe to Learn

Together for Girls

Centre for Global Development

Coalition for Good Schools

National Council for Family Affairs, Jordan

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.

Rise Up Session Date and Time:

October 9, 2025 3:45 pm

Country or Region Focus:

Africa, Global

Type of Session:

Panel and country example presentations with audience discussion

Public Health Pillar Focus:

Effective Governance and Multi-Sectoral Coordination, A National Action, Capacity Building, and Scaled Solutions, Data Driven and Evidence Based Solutions, A Holistic Approach that Includes All of The Pillars

Related Resources

Safe to Learn website

Go To Resource

Safe to Learn Technical Toolkit

Go To Resource

A New Data Hub for School-Related Violence Statistics

Go To Resource

Together for Girls Violence Against Children and Youth Surveys (VACs)

Go To Resource

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

The session will generate a summary report capturing key insights, practical examples, and lessons learned from panelists and participants. This report may include:

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.

The summary report will be disseminated widely through the Safe to Learn Coalition website, social media, and mailing lists. It will also be shared with Rise Up Policy Forum participants and other relevant networks to foster broader uptake of the ideas and approaches discussed. Where appropriate, findings and recommendations may feed into:

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.