As a part of the “Campaign Against Sexual Harassment: Making Our Streets Safe for Everyone” endorsed by UNFPA and its partner the Egyptian Center for women’s Rights (ECWR) and in commemoration of the 16 days of activism to combat violence against women, training workshops on sexual harassment were organized for school teachers.
ECWR held two training workshops, a two-day training (25 - 26 November 2011) at Al-Omara’a Hall in El-Fayoum governorate, for teachers and social, physical, and media specialists of primary schools and a second one on December 9-10 in Cairo governorate. 30 male and female teachers from the different levels of educational directorates participated in each workshop. The trainings addressed the concept of sexual harassment, factors behind the spread of sexual harassment and its diverse trends. Beyond theory, practical measures of support for children victims of sexual harassment and effective measures of prevention of sexual harassment were discussed.
Important outcomes and recommendations including the development of a common vision for raising awareness on sexual harassment in schools and the adoption of an action plan to combat sexual harassment in schools evolved out of the workshops. The action plan comprised a number activities, such as health education seminars, lectures for students during the breaks, provision of a box for complaints and suggestions, creation of wall magazines, banners and stickers, regular meetings and trainings for parents and teachers, organization of psychodrama on sexual harassment and presentation of films for combating violence against children .
Due to the success of the first training and the enthusiasm among teachers, the ECWR gathered trained teachers and organized the first awareness day for students of the preparatory Nile School (Imbaba, Giza) on November 27.
85 young female students attended and enjoyed the animated film on sexual harassment “A Very Important Film” and took part in the discussion following the film viewing, shared their experiences around sexual harassment, and their ideas on prevention and protection.
