Safely at school: reducing risks of school-related gender-based violence for children with disabilities in Sierra Leone

Working in four school communities in Karene District, Sierra Leone, this project has articulated experiences, concerns and needs of girls and boys with disabilities regarding school-related gender-based violence (SRGBV). Children’s perspectives, together with inputs from parents, teachers and other stakeholders, have informed the co-development of a disability-inclusive SRGBV reduction plan in each of the four communities.

Key project learnings:

• By focusing on the voices of children with disabilities, this study has highlighted the clear, strong links between SRGBV and persistent disability stigma and discrimination. Children with disabilities encounter multiple forms of SRGBV, and their experiences are both gendered, and linked to the particular nature of their disability
• Weak reporting mechanisms, and limited redress or support for those experiencing SRGBV, was a consistent challenge across all four school-communities
• In each school-community, community members, including school leadership and children with disabilities, have worked together to develop disability-inclusive SRGBV response action plans to address challenges highlighted by the study. Key areas of focus have included addressing stigma and discrimination, along with harmful cultural beliefs and practices, strengthening mechanisms for reporting and addressing SRGBV, and reducing children’s exposure to risks such as speeding vehicles or overgrown bushes on the way to and from schools
• Although relevant policy and legislation exists, enforcement is limited, and there are some gaps. Addressing these challenges and strengthening inter-ministerial cooperation in this area will be essential

In Sierra Leone, high levels of SRGBV are a profound challenge, driven by deep-rooted social and economic inequalities. Girls and boys with disabilities are at particularly high risk of experiencing SRGBV, and there has previously been little research evidence documenting their experiences, concerns and needs in relation to SRGBV. As input from children with disabilities is crucial to design effective disability-inclusive policies and interventions, this study used community-based participatory action research methods to centre the voices of these children in working towards co-development of disability-inclusive SRGBV response action plans in each participating community.

Funded by the Sexual Violence Research Initiative, the study has been implemented in collaboration with two organisations of people with disabilities, the African Youth With Disabilities Network, Sierra Leone and Concern for the Development of Disabled Women and Children with Disabilities. Additionally, in each participating community, two youths with disabilities have joined the study team as Young Researchers with disabilities. Read our blog to learn more about the study team and our methods. The active participation of people with disabilities is a core element of this study and we have seen clearly that their lived experiences have strengthened the research and ensured its relevance to children’s lives.

Study activities have consisted of participatory focus group discussions, community mapping and photovoice with children with disabilities, and focus group discussions with parents, teachers, community leaders and other stakeholders. These were followed by a validation and participatory action workshop in each community, where participants reviewed and refined preliminary findings, and collaboratively developed a community-specific disability-inclusive SRGBV reduction plan.

Provisional findings have been shared with key stakeholders in Karene District, as well as in Freetown. Preparation of study outputs and planning for dissemination activities is now underway.