What is ESAS?

Equally Safe at School (ESAS) is a project that works with schools. This is to stop gender-based violence.

Gender-based violence is what we call certain kinds of abusive or violent behaviour. We call it gender-based violence because it is linked to inequality between women and men.

It is mostly carried out by men and boys and directed at women, girls and transgender people. But boys can experience it too.

No child or young person should ever face violence or abuse. It is never their fault and they have the right to help and support.

Gender-based violence does not always involve physical violence. It can make people feel very sad or scared and can affect their mental health.

Gender-based violence can include:

• Rape and sexual assault
• Unwanted touching
• Abusive relationships (including domestic abuse)
• Sexual harassment
• Unwanted sexual comments
• Stalking
• Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) – FGM is removing or changing women’s and girls’ genitals for non-medical reasons, for example by cutting them.
• Honour-based violence – Honour based violence is violence towards somebody who is seen to have broken the “honour code” of a family or community.
• Forced marriage – Forced marriage is when you are forced or pressured to marry someone you don’t want to.
• Image-based abuse – This is when someone uses photos or videos to embarrass or hurt you. For example, sharing private photos of you without your permission.
• Grooming and exploitation – This is when someone pretends to be kind to you or gives you money, gifts, alcohol or drugs to encourage you to have sex with them.

ESAS wants to make schools more supportive for students who have been affected by gender-based violence.

ESAS works with schools in lots of ways. These include:

• School assessments to find out what the main problems are
• A student action group where students plan actions to make things better
• Teacher training to help teachers know more and what they can do to stop gender-based violence
• Policy work that makes sure school rules are clear and work well
• Teaching resources for teachers to help them teach
• Monitoring progress to find out how well activities are working and how to keep up the good work.