Our work

What we mean by ending violence in, around, and through schools

Ending violence in, around, and through schools means:

• Stopping all violence connected to school life—whether on school grounds, during the journey to and from school, or online
• Using schools as a platform to reduce violence in other areas of children’s lives—at home, in communities, and in digital spaces

Political will and coordinated action are essential to make this a reality.

The Safe to Learn Call to Action—a globally endorsed, evidence-based framework—sets out where progress must accelerate. It calls on governments and education actors to:

• Implement policy and legislation
• Strengthen prevention, risk mitigation, and response at the school level
• Shift social and gender norms and promote behaviour change
• Invest resources effectively
• Generate and use evidence

Since its launch, 18 countries have endorsed the Safe to Learn Call to Action—a powerful show of political will to make schools safe, inclusive spaces where all children can learn, thrive, and grow free from violence.

The power of collective action

With a growing coalition of 16 global partners, Safe to Learn brings together governments, civil society, UN agencies, donors, and youth to drive real, lasting change. We work to ensure that all children—in all their diversity—have access to safe, inclusive learning environments, and that schools are platforms for protection, empowerment, and social transformation.

Together, we are working to:

• Keep safe learning high on global and regional political agendas
• Share and scale country-led solutions and innovations
• Ensure children are protected in schools and through schools—as catalysts for change in their homes and communities

Guided by its 2021–2024 Strategy, Safe to Learn focuses on two mutually reinforcing pillars:

• Country-level action, to strengthen systems and drive implementation on the ground
• Global advocacy, to elevate the issue and align stakeholders around a common agenda