To mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, celebrated on Monday 25 November, 14 classes from Paris and the Paris region came together at UNESCO to exchange views with three experts on the major issue of combating violence against women and gender equality.
Claudine Serre, Advisor to the , opened the discussion by outlining the different forms of violence faced by women today. Claudine detailed the consequences of this violence on women's lives and stressed the importance of combating invisible violence. For her, gender equality is a question of social justice and must be tackled at all levels. This is why 91Â鶹¹ú²ú¾«Æ·×ÔÅÄ made gender equality a fundamental priority in its actions worldwide.
For the expert, it is vital to recognise the place of women in history, particularly in the arts and culture, and ‘to encourage young people to read works written by women’. The students showed great interest in how to take action against this violence. They spoke of the difficulty of recognizing violence in certain contexts, and stressed the need to strengthen the confidence and recognition of women in society.
We need to promote gender equality from an early age, to build a future without violence.
Among the forms of violence mentioned by Claudine Serre, online violence was discussed in greater detail by Begoña Lasagabaster, Director of UNESCO's Division for Gender Equality, who highlighted the issues involved.
Although online violence can affect anyone, women are the most frequent victims. Digital technology has given rise to new forms of threat, which take place anywhere, at any time, anonymously, and are easier to disseminate and amplify.
Begoña explained that this violence reinforces gender inequalities by reducing the voice of women, particularly those in visible positions such as journalists. At a societal level, stereotypes persist and democracy is undermined.
The students asked themselves: what can they actually do?
Report harmful content, avoid sharing stereotypes and commit to more protective rules on digital platforms. Finally, the expert stressed the importance of regulating the use of artificial intelligence and online platforms, in order to guarantee quality digital education and enable young people to be responsible and informed players in this environment.
Educating young people about digital responsibility is essential to prevent online violence and promote a respectful online environment.
Finally, Elsa Soussan Burzynski, UNESCO Specialist in Violence in Education, took the floor to talk about gender inequality and violence in schools. Many pupils around the world, boys and girls alike, face such violence, whether from their peers or from adults in the education system. The specialist said that gender identity also influences the way in which violence is experienced. She also emphasized that education can be a lever for protection, particularly for girls, and that comprehensive sexuality education programmes are essential for establishing a culture of respect and equality in schools.
Zeinaba, a student at Lycée Colbert in Paris 7, wondered why men often occupy positions of power when it comes to gender violence. The discussion that followed with the students made it clear that these inequalities stem from deeply rooted social norms, but that young people have the power to deconstruct them and change attitudes.
Schools play a very important role in preventing gender-based violence, for example by incorporating knowledge, skills and values about gender, health and well-being, and healthy interpersonal relationships into the school curriculum.
The Campus provided an opportunity to raise young people's awareness of violence against women and gender inequality. Through inspiring presentations and enriching discussions, the students explored practical ways of changing attitudes and getting actively involved on a daily basis.
This event was organised with the support of the and in collaboration with
