Comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) can empower young people to make informed, autonomous decisions regarding their current and future relationships. This report finds compelling evidence that CSE is both part of a quality education and a holistic approach to prevent VAWG. However, more evidence on what works in changing attitudes on gender equality and reducing VAWG as part of CSE delivery is needed.
Drawing on global evidence on CSE interventions and participatory research in Cambodia and Uganda, this report explores the extent to which CSE may be a key mechanism to promote gender equality, shift harmful social norms and prevent VAWG.
Findings
The report presents a working theory of change centred around four key pathways to change to illustrate the links between CSE and VAWG prevention:
- CSE can promote gender equitable attitudes among young people, including attitudes towards VAWG. However, most CSE programmes do not go far enough in transforming gender relations with curricula insufficiently engaging with gender and social norms which underpin VAWG.
- Approaches targeting young people with CSE have had positive impacts on important life skills including confidence, self-efficacy and decision-making. However, unequal gender norms and deeply entrenched social norms can restrict the ability of young people to use these skills and may also impact on the quality of CSE delivery, hindering discussions around youth sexuality and relationships.
- Community integrated approaches to CSE have the potential to transform attitudes of the wider community. This can be crucial for CSE implementation, to reinforce messages and to prevent a backlash. However, attitudes of duty bearers continue to be a significant (though not insurmountable) barrier to CSE provision.
- Though less examined, CSE can improve reporting and response to VAWG. CSE can play a key role as part of a multi-pronged approach to VAWG response: offering a platform to address GBV in and around schools and through linkages with other VAWG related organisations and services. However, addressing school-related gender-based violence (SRGBV) is challenging, with evidence of successful approaches limited. Consequently, low reporting of VAWG cases persists, with insufficient and weak GBV response mechanisms undermining efforts.
Recommendations
This report recommends that CSE programmes:
• Adequately address gender and social norms which underpin VAWG. CSE should go beyond individual behaviours to address gender inequality, social norms and stereotypes – through practical examples which tackle gender inequalities and power dynamics in young people’s lives.
• Adopt gender-transformative and rights-based approaches that address attitudes and entitlement which devalue women’s bodies and agency, transform harmful notions of masculinities and promote positive attitudes towards LGBTI rights.
• Link with VAWG prevention programmes and ensure best practice in VAWG prevention. CSE’s potential to prevent VAWG can be strengthened by adopting best practice in VAWG prevention programming.
• Build an enabling environment and address social norms around CSE programmes through engagement with duty bearers.
• Ensure robust and anonymous reporting mechanisms exist, and develop guidelines and support implementation of reporting mechanisms to respond to VAWG in and around schools.
• Improve M&E of CSE interventions, including specific indicators to measure social norm change and impact on VAWG, and build the evidence base linking CSE to VAWG prevention.
