SELP ASBL says NO to digital violence in the school Environment
As part of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and on the occasion of International Human Rights Day, celebrated every December 10, the organization Solidarity for Support and the Fight Against Poverty(SELP ASBL) conducted, on December 10, 2025, a major awareness-raising activity at the Le Savoir-Vivre School Complex, located in the Bugamba 2 grouping, Nyiragongo territory.
This initiative is part of SELP ASBL’s ongoing commitment to protecting human rights, the dignity of women and girls, and preventing violence in school, extracurricular and digital environments.
Raising awareness to prevent and take action
This initiative is part of SELP ASBL’s ongoing commitment to protecting human rights, the dignity of women and girls, and preventing violence in schools, extracurricular activities and the digital world.
Gender-based violence (GBV) has been defined as any form of violence or abuse perpetrated against a person because of their sex, gender, or associated social norms, thus constituting a serious violation of human rights. The discussions highlighted the fact that women and girls remain the primary victims, and that online violence is real, persistent, and often normalized.
Participants were also made aware of the different forms of GBV, including physical, sexual, psychological, economic and socio-cultural violence, as well as the increasing use of digital tools and social networks as channels facilitating this violence
Ten concrete actions to combat gender-based violence
To translate awareness into concrete actions, SELP ASBL has presented ten practical measures for students, teachers, and educational authorities to prevent and combat gender-based violence in their environment:
- Promote mutual respect between girls and boys and ban all forms of insult or humiliation;
- Reject all forms of violence, including harassment, fights and sexist jokes
- Supporting and protecting victims by listening to them without judgment and referring them to trusted adults;
- Immediately report any suspected cases to teachers, school counselors, or protection committees, as silence protects the abuser;
- Recognize everyone’s right to safety, respect, and an education free from harassment;
- Adopt preventive and safe behaviors on a daily basis;
- Actively participate in school clubs and initiatives to combat GBV;
- Promote equality between girls and boys and deconstruct gender stereotypes;
- Use respectful and positive language in school and digital spaces;
- Protecting online peers by refusing the cyberbullying, the distribution of intimate content, and reporting any dangerous message.
A collective and committed mobilization
The activity saw strong participation and significant interest from the beneficiaries, who expressed the need for continued strengthening of awareness-raising efforts. The artistic contribution of slam poets Kipa and Rose also helped to convey powerful and accessible messages promoting dignity, respect, and well-being.
A powerful message for a future free from violence
Through this initiative, SELP ASBL reaffirms its commitment to building safe, inclusive, and protective school environments where every student can learn and thrive without fear.
“Together, let’s say NO to digital violence that devalues the dignity of women and girls in school and extracurricular settings.”
