From Bogotá to Manila: Building momentum to end violence against children

Education systems are central to preventing violence against children at scale. When schools are safe and enabling, they can protect children from violence, support learning, and build the skills and relationships children need to reach their full potential. 

Yet for too many children, violence in, around and through schools – including gender-based violence, bullying, corporal punishment, discrimination, exclusion, and technology-facilitated violence – continues to undermine their learning, well-being and life chances. 

From 18-19 November 2026, the Philippines will host the Second Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children in Manila, co-hosted by WHO and UNICEF in collaboration with the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Violence Against Children (SRSG-VAC). The conference is a pivotal moment to strengthen recognition of the role education systems can play in preventing and responding to violence, and in ensuring every child is safe to learn. 

A moment to strengthen education sector action 

The Manila conference builds on the momentum generated at the first Global Ministerial Conference, held in Bogotá, Colombia in November 2024, where over 100 governments pledged concrete action to end violence against children. This year, the opportunity is to move from commitment to implementation: strengthening national pledges, embedding safe and enabling schools in education sector plans, budgets and accountability systems, and mobilizing partners around practical action. 

For the Safe to Learn Coalition, Manila is a critical moment to ensure the evidence, voices and priorities of children, young people, survivors, teachers, civil society and governments inform a clear pathway for action – one that prevents violence, responds effectively when it occurs, and supports every child to be safe to learn, in the classroom and online. 

With three months left until the Conference, now is the time to take action.

1. Support national preparatory sessions and stronger pledges 

Ministries of Education have a critical role in contributing to national preparatory sessions ahead of Manila, convened by Ministries responsible for child welfare. These cross-Ministerial sessions will enable countries to review progress since Bogotá, identify gaps, and update or strengthen national pledges so they address violence in, around and through schools as part of wider education sector reform. 

Governments are encouraged to engage civil society, children and young people, teachers, communities and the private sector so that pledges are inclusive, practical and grounded in the realities at the school level. Civil society can bring community experience, survivor perspectives and accountability, while the private sector can contribute expertise and resources, particularly on digital safety, technology and financing. 

Preparatory sessions should also help link updated pledges to domestic and external financing, ensuring commitments made in Manila are actionable, adequately resourced and embedded within national education systems. 

See the guidance on how you can support national preparatory sessions. 

Check pledges made by countries in Bogotá and reports on progress. 

2. Join satellite events in Manila 

Ahead of the main conference, UNICEF, UNESCO and the Safe to Learn Coalition will co-convene two days of satellite events in Manila from 16-17 November 2026. These sessions will set the stage, showcase progress, and create space for partners to share practical approaches to ending violence in, around and through schools. 

Details of the satellite agenda will be available on the conference website.   

3. Endorse the Safe to Learn Call to Action 

During the Ministerial Conference, Ministers of Education will have the opportunity to announce endorsement of the Safe to Learn Call to Action. Endorsement signals a commitment to ensuring that every child learns in a safe and enabling environment, free from violence. Those endorsing will join over 20 countries already implementing the Call to Action, demonstrating leadership and helping to build momentum behind the urgent goal of ensuring that all children can learn in a safe and enabling environment. 

Through collective action – from stronger national pledges and meaningful participation in Manila to endorsing the Safe to Learn Call to Action – we can accelerate progress toward a future where every child, everywhere, is safe to learn. 

Learn more about how to endorse the Call to Action.

To find out more about how your organization can engage, contact [email protected] and sign up for the Safe to Learn newsletter for regular updates.