Gender-based violence (GBV) is one of the most widespread human rights abuses in the world, affecting individuals everywhere, with consequences that reach beyond the individual and can affect entire families and communities. Humanitarian crises and situations of fragility more broadly can exacerbate exposure to different forms of GBV. GBV interventions refer to core crisis programming activities that can remedy, mitigate, or avert direct loss of life, physical or psychological harm and threats to a person’s dignity and well-being. Therefore, specific measures and interventions to mitigate, respond to and prevent GBV must be undertaken from the onset of a crisis and continue through transition and recovery efforts in all IOM sectors and programmes.

More than 246 million children are subjected to gender-based violence in or around schools every year. This is a violation of their human rights, and a form of gender discrimination that has far-reaching physical, psychological and educational consequences.

In order to tackle this worldwide problem, 6 organizations under the leadership of the University of Florence have designed FREASCO – Free from sexism and sexual harassment at school, a European project promoted by the Justice Programme & Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme and endorsed by Skillman. The project aims to facilitate the early detection and reporting of episodes of sexism and sexual harassment as well as prevent gender-based violence occur within school and university contexts through the development of digital tools and targeted guidance to schools and universities.

In particular, the project addresses the cross-sectorial cooperation of  7 partners in 4 countries, in order to achieve the following specific objectives:

• Raise awareness and promote prevention on the phenomenon of sexual harassment, gender-based violence, stereotypes, homophobia and discrimination;
• Develop and disseminate practical tools for teachers and school/university staff to identify and prevent sexual harassment and gender-based violence;
• Monitor and improve the state of implementation of methods aimed at combating gender-based violence in European schools and universities;
• Strengthen the role of school and university staff in the fight against sexual harassment and gender discrimination.

Project start date – end date 01/01/2021 – 31/01/2023