The Welsh Government is working with NSPCC Cymru and young people
to understand the solutions to preventing harmful behaviour.
Today the Welsh Government has published a new Peer-on-Peer
Sexual Harassment Plan. The plan sets out how the Welsh
Government will work with partners to prevent and end peer on
peer sexual harassment and address harmful behaviour when it
occurs.
A safe learning environment is essential to giving young people
the best chances in education. The Welsh Government has published
a new plan so that schools and colleges understand their roles
and responsibilities, and provide quality training so staff can
confidently address and teach about sexual harassment in a
developmentally appropriate way. The plan has been co-created
with a number of partners across the education sector, local
authorities, the police and charities.
Recent reviews from Estyn, the Senedd’s Children, Young People
and Education Committee inquiry, and first-hand accounts from
learners through the Everyone’s Invited
platform have revealed the extent of young people experiencing
sexual harassment and harmful behaviour from their peers at
school.
This evidence has shown that learners need to be able to voice
their concerns about what they’re experiencing and feel listened
to and understood, so schools, governments and partners have an
accurate picture and can take steps to address it.
The Welsh Government is now working with NSPCC Cymru and young
people in Wales on targeted engagement to understand the issues
being faced by children and young people to help put their voices
and experiences first. This work will seek to understand young
people’s knowledge of peer-on-peer sexual harassment, whether
they feel listened to and supported when they talk about and
report peer on peer sexual harassment, and what the solutions
could be to stopping it.
The Curriculum for Wales ensures all learners have access to
developmentally appropriate lessons about healthy relationships
with friends and family, and develop an understanding of
appropriate behaviour. Lessons are tailored to a learner’s
developmental stage. This learning, and a better awareness of
harassment in schools brought forward by the new plan, aims to
protect learners by empowering them to recognise harassment,
speak out and get the support they need.
The Minister for Education and Welsh Language, , said:
“Schools across Wales do excellent work in creating safe learning
environments for their learners. However, just like in wider
society, we know that harassment can be a problem. Everyone must
know that any form of sexual harassment is completely
unacceptable and must not be tolerated.
“I’m pleased we’re working with the NSPCC and young people
themselves to address this issue. Protecting learners, listening
and responding to their concerns is essential to ending
harassment, supporting their wellbeing and boosting attendance.”
Cecile Gwilym, Policy and Public Affairs Manager for NSPCC Cymru
said:
“It is crucial that the views of young people are at the
forefront of shaping Welsh Government’s ongoing work on
peer-on-peer sexual harassment. We know that sadly, peer on peer
sexual harassment is part of their daily lives, both online and
offline.
“We were delighted to work with young people to capture their
views about solutions to tackle this issue. We held
consultation workshops with schools and a youth group last year,
using a range of creative methods to identify recommendations for
tackling peer on peer sexual harassment and develop young people
facing survey questions.”
