Education Cannot Wait Guidance Notes on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Risk Mitigation Measures

According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), globally an estimated one in three women and girls will experience a form of gender-based violence (GBV) in their lifetime. During conflicts and humanitarian crises, GBV risks are exacerbated and girls and women are disproportionately affected by the impact of emergencies on education.

• Families may prioritize boys’ education, choosing not to pay for girls, and girls may be pressured to exchange sex for school fees.
• Emergencies can create new risks for girls while traveling to and from schools and learning spaces or from a lack of safe and gender segregated WASH facilities.

These and other heightened risks encourage families to keep their girls out of school and even to marry them off as children to reduce the risk of gender-based violence in and around schools.

Education is a fundamental right for all children and adolescents. More must be done if we want to address GBV risks that are key barriers to girls’, particularly adolescent girls’ access, retention, and learning outcomes in emergencies and protracted crises.

Education Cannot Wait (ECW) launched two new guidance notes on GBV risk mitigation measures and meaningful engagement of local women's organisations. These short and practical guidance notes are based on global best practices and will be systematically integrated in the design and implementation of ECW-supported investments.