Students learn best in schools that provide safety and social support. However, some young people experience violence and harassment in, around, and on the way to school. This includes gender-based violence, which can take many different forms and can negatively impact students’ learning.
On 2016 International Women's Day, the regional offices of UNESCO, UNICEF, Plan International and UN Women, and the East Asia Pacific UN Girls’ Education Initiative (UNGEI) and the UN Secretary-General’s UNiTE to End Violence against Women campaign released this week a new resource to advance gender equality, social cohesion and respectful relationships among young people.
“Connect with Respect” is a curriculum tool for teachers in Asia and the Pacific. Developed through a regional partnership, it draws on the scientific literature around violence prevention, gender norms change, and the programmatic experience of school-based interventions in the region and beyond.
It includes a learning tool for teachers to build their own knowledge and awareness on related topics, as well as more than 30 learning activities teachers can use to increase knowledge, positive attitudes, and skills among students. Designed for lower secondary school learners, activities can be integrated a range of subjects, including literacy, social studies, civics/citizenship education, health, life skills and sexuality education. It could also be used with other age ranges with further adaptation to ensure age-appropriateness.
Use “Connect with Respect” in your classroom!
Currently in English, the tool is an open resource publication, and can be translated into other languages. Some translations are already underway, so feel free to contact us also at respect.ap@unesco.org if you would like to learn more.