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Establishing secure and positive school settings is a shared responsibility for everyone involved in the education process. The symposium showcased real-life examples of practical approaches towards achieving this goal, which were presented by participants from Bhutan, Mongolia, Nepal, and the Philippines. Such practical approaches included local teams supporting schools; assessments to address SRGBV on the basis of sexual orientation gender-identity and expression (SOGIE); child participation; and comprehensive counselling frameworks.

Participants also agreed that community engagement and learner-centred approaches that promote inclusive education are powerful ‘essentials’. An inspiring session on embracing diversity and promoting inclusion in SRGBV programming highlighted strategies of five different organisations on the symposium’s second day. As noted by Mason Trinh, Health Program Coordinator of Lighthouse Social Enterprise, Viet Nam, ‘It is crucial to keep challenging teachers and empowering them to continue SOGIE sensitisation among teachers. Being challenged, teachers can realise that they should be more inclusive of students, and they can influence other teachers.’

The key role of governments and policies in preventing and responding to SRGBV were equally highlighted. Participants agreed that strong policy support is necessary to ensure that good intentions become translated into effective implementation. Government representatives from Cambodia, India, and Mongolia featured their policies and training implementation lessons, and participants pointed out the significance of a whole-school approach in addressing SRGBV. Sharing feedback from the session, Claribel Waide, Senior Gender-based Violence Officer, and Tracy Wilson, Assistant Secretary Policy Division – both from the Department of Education, Papua New Guinea – underscored the importance of youth engagement in policy-making that effectively addresses SRGBV. As the presenters noted, they faced ‘a lot of challenges within our institution and had to fight for a gender policy. We spoke to children. They spoke to us too, in all their diversity.’

During gallery walk sessions, participants had the chance to exchange ideas and gain knowledge about innovative SRGBV programmes from diverse country contexts. Ten presenters showcased their tools and practical resources aimed at preventing SRGBV. During presentations, attendees could engage in meaningful discussions about various interventions through a small group poster presentation, allowing for closer interaction with presenters.

Despite recent progress made in collecting data and evidence, significant challenges to preventing SRGBV remain. Following an exclusive preview of the SRGBV Working Group’s forthcoming technical brief, ‘School Violence: Why Gender Matters and How to Measure School-Related Gender-Based Violence’, participants delved into the significant data challenges that continue to attend SRGBV, such as accurately estimating its prevalence; fully understanding its impact; collecting data ethically and that incorporates the perspectives of children and youth; and evaluating the effectiveness of interventions. Recognising these gaps, there is a pressing need for further efforts to bridge certain knowledge deficiencies, and to drive meaningful action.

The creation of safe and inclusive learning environments that are free from all types of violence depends upon establishing policies, utilising inclusive data, and adopting intersectional approaches. Acknowledging progress and best practices is critically important for ongoing collaboration and sustainable efforts at creating more inclusive, gender-equitable, and safe learning environments for all young people across Asia-Pacific.