Knowledge hub

Violence is a daily reality for many children in Sierra Leone – at school, at home, and in their communities. Nearly 9 out of 10 children aged 1-14 years in Sierra Leone experience some form of violent discipline in the household. At school and on often long, unsafe commutes, learners face corporal punishment, bullying, sexual and gender-based…

Safe to Learn’s brand guidelines are designed to ensure a clear, consistent, and impactful identity across all communications and materials. They provide practical guidance on the use of logos, colours, typography and imagery, to help partners and stakeholders represent the initiative accurately and cohesively.  , 2026, Language(s):, English, Safe to Learn Brand Guidelines January 2026 UNICEF/UNI830097 Safe to LearnSafe to Learn is a global initiative dedicated to ending all forms of violence against children, in, around and through schools. Backed by a powerful coalition of 18 partners, Safe to Learn provides an opportunity for change so that all children, in all their diversity can…

This technical brief, part of UNESCO’s series on school violence and bullying, focuses on the role of teachers in preventing and addressing violence in schools. It draws on findings from two recent studies to present new evidence on teachers’ readiness and capacity to recognize and respond to different forms of violence in their schools, and…, Publication date:, 2022, Language(s):, English

This Manifesto was developed in Freetown, Sierra Leone, from 18-20 May 2022 during a gender-transformative leadership workshop hosted by the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education and the Gender at the Centre Initiative - a programme implemented by UNGEI and UNESCO IIEP, and supported by GPE, UNESCO, UNICEF, and the governments of France…, Publication date:, 2022, Language(s):, English

This series of six thematic briefs synthesizes the latest evidence and learning from two regional workshops on how best to prevent and address school-related gender-based violence (SRGBV) held in West and Central Africa and East and Southern Africa. This series of thematic briefs is targeted at policymakers and practitioners. The challenges and…, 2019, Language(s):, English, Ending School-Related Gender-Based Violence A Series of Thematic Briefs 2 | Ending School-Related Gender-Based Violence - A Series of Thematic Briefs 12 | Ending School-Related Gender-Based Violence - A Series of Thematic Briefs 1 Global Working Group to End School-Related Gender-Based Violence The Global Working Group to End School-Related Gender…

This document presents six practical guidelines urging all parties to armed conflict to avoid using schools and universities for military purposes. It addresses key scenarios including the use of functioning or evacuated schools, destruction of educational facilities, attacks on schools that have become military objectives, and the provision of…, Publication date:, 2014, Language(s):, Available in over 25 languages.

The Safe Learning Model, a flagship programme by Concern Worldwide, adopted a holistic approach to education that brings together transformative gender interventions within an education programme. The model, piloted and evaluated in Sierra Leone 2017-2021, is based on evidence that children’s educational progress is enhanced when they live in…, Publication date:, 2025, Language(s):, English

In 2015, the governments of Norway and Argentina led a process among United Nations (UN) Member States to develop the Safe Schools Declaration, an intergovernmental political agreement dedicated to protecting students, teachers, schools, and universities from the worst effects of armed conflict. The Safe Schools Declaration outlines a set of…, Publication date:, 2015, Language(s):, Available in 30 languages.

This factsheet documents the practical impact of the Safe Schools Declaration and the Guidelines for Protecting Schools and Universities from Military Use during Armed Conflict. It outlines progress made at the national, regional, and international levels to safeguard education and showcases the practical impact of this political framework to…, Publication date:, 2022, Language(s):, English

The Comprehensive School Safety Framework (CSSF) 2022-2030, developed by GADRRRES, provides strategic guidance to education sector policy-makers, planners, school administrators, and partners to promote safe, equitable, and continuous access to a quality education for all. The framework takes a 'whole of society' and 'all-hazards' approach to…, Publication date:, 2022, Language(s):, English

A UNICEF research report uses Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics (SEA-PLM) 2019 regional assessment data to examine the relationship between child well-being and academic learning outcomes in six Southeast Asian countries. It finds that exposure to violence at school is associated with lower learning outcomes, while safe, supportive school…, Publication date:, 2022, Language(s):, English

A landmark multi-agency, evidence-based framework presenting seven strategies for preventing and responding to violence against children and adolescents globally. This is an evidence-based resource for everyone committed to preventing and responding to violence against children and adolescents – from government to grassroots, and from civil…, Publication date:, 2016, Language(s):, English