FOUR countries are set to host game-changing events for Girl Guides and Girl Scouts from around the world in a bid to tackle the global issue of violence against girls and young women, says the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS).
Girls and boys will join week-long sessions in the Maldives, Costa Rica, India and Switzerland this month, to gain the tools and expertise needed to understand the root causes of violence in their communities. They will learn how to educate and involve their peers and communities to prevent such violence, as well as discover where to access support if violence is experienced.
Throughout May 2017, a series of trainings will take place across the world:
- In India, over 80 young people from 52 states will learn how to put a stop to violence in their communities.
- The Girl Guides of Maldives will launch WAGGGS’ Stop the Violence global campaign in-country, with nearly 30 leaders and teachers attending.
- In Costa Rica, Girl Guides will be training a series of Girl Guide leaders from across the country.
- Volunteers from UK, Japan, Australia, Denmark, USA, Mexico, Sweden, UK, Kenya and Germany will attend a training event in Switzerland, with many keen to share what they’ve learnt with their fellow Girl Guides and Girl Scouts back home.
Girl Guide Harini, 18, from India, who recently completed her training, said:
“Voices Against Violence has given me the courage to speak out and stay strong. It has taught me about my rights and the importance of gender equality and I want to continue to spread the message, during my day to day life.”
According to the UN, women across the world are subject to physical, sexual, psychological and economic violence, regardless of their income, age or education. Further figures from the UN reveal a third of women worldwide have experienced gender-based violence, while less than 40% of these sought help - and only 10% went to the police. Worldwide, up to 50 percent of sexual assaults are committed against girls under 16.
Anita Tiessen, CEO of World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, said:
“Violence against girls and young women continues to be a global issue and one that urgently needs to be tackled. It is a global phenomenon that cuts across different cultures, beliefs and societies.
“The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts is tackling violence at its root, by educating boys and girls about how to spot it and how to stop it. We are committed to ensuring girls – and boys - have the tools they need to go forward, make their voices heard and tackle issues important to them.”
With a membership of 10 million girls across 146 countries, WAGGGS has been working hard to tackle violence since it launched its Stop the Violence: Speak out for Girls’ Rights campaign. So far, over 6,000 young people in 35 countries have been trained on Voices Against Violence, a unique non-formal education programme created by the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts and UN Women, focused on encouraging young people to take action and put a stop to violence.
ENDS
To find out more about the Stop the Violence campaign and the Voices Against Violence curriculum, please visit: www.stoptheviolencecampaign.com
For more information, please contact:
Angela Singh, Communications Manager, Media
World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
Phone: +44 (0)20 7433 6460
Email: Angela.Singh@wagggs.org
About WAGGGS
The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) is the world’s only movement for every girl and any girl because we believe that each of them deserves to be the best they can be. The diverse Movement represents ten million girls and young women from 146 countries. Free to make what they want from the Movement, girls learn by doing, making friends and having fun. In safe, local spaces, girls develop the skills and attitudes to change themselves, their communities and our world. WAGGGS keeps the global Movement thriving, united and growing.