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In January 2023 End Violence Against Women Coalition (EVAW) launched their #AboutTime campaign, drawing attention to the scale of violence against girls in schools across England and Wales and demanding action.

But it’s not only an issue across the border, it’s an urgent problem in Scotland too.

 

Sexual Harassment in Scottish Schools

A University of Glasgow study found, of 638 Scottish secondary school pupils surveyed:

• 2/3 had been sexually harassed ‘visually or verbally’ in the past 3 months. (Source)

• 1/3 had experienced personally-invasive behaviour, such as sexual touching, in the past 3 months. (Source)

Girlguiding found, of the 172 girls from Scotland aged between 7 and 21 surveyed:

• 12% girls and young women aged 13 to 21 say fear of sexual harassment holds them back at school. (source)

• Only 40% of girls and young women aged 11 to 21 learn about healthy relationships at school. (source)

• 3/10 girls and young women can remember learning about sexual harassment at school. (source)

Girlguiding Scotland found of 540 girls and young women in Scotland aged 7 to 25:

• 21% of girls and young women aged 13-25 said they experienced sexual harassment while at school, college or university. (Source)

• 84% of girls aged 13-25 said they learnt little of nothing about sexual harassment or abuse in personal and social education. (Source)

 

We need the Scottish government and Scottish schools to follow through on their commitment and take violence against girls in schools seriously and act now.

What can you do?

Watch and share EVAW’s campaign film, co-produced with girls, young women, and non-binary people following focus groups.

Ask your school to:

• Acknowledge and address sexual harassment and abuse.

• Take violence against girls seriously.

• Provide inclusive relationship and sex education that teaches consent.

 

EVAW’s #AboutTime campaign

Learn more about the #AboutTime campaign, what girls have to say about the sexual harassment they experience in school, and EVAW’s calls to schools on EVAW's website.