BELGRADE, 5 June 2014 – UNICEF, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development presented research results about attitudes, values, experiences and awareness related to distribution, characteristics and consequences of sexual and gender-based violence among and against pupils (girls and boys) in primary and secondary schools in Serbia. The aim of the research was to investigate and suggest good practice prevention capacities and prevention opportunities, particularly related to sexual and gender-based violence.

1. Republika Srbija
MINISTARSTVO PROSVETE,
NAUKE I TEHNOLOŠKOG
RAZVOJA
Preliminary research results
on gender-based violence
in schools

2. Integrated Response to Violence against Women in Serbia
• United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
• UN Development Program (UNDP)
• UN Agency for Gender Equality (UN Women)
School without violence
• Unit for Violence Prevention, Ministry of Education, Science and
Technological Development, Republic of Serbia
• UNICEF, Office in Serbia
• Institute for Psychology, Philosophy Faculty, University in Belgrade

3. Research team
Center for Gender and Politics,
Faculty of Political Science, University in Belgrade
• Jelena Ćeriman, B.A., sociologist, researcher
• Ksenija Perišić, B.A., psychologist, researcher
• Nađa Duhaček, M.A., women’s studies, researcher
• Marina Bogdanović, B.A., consultant
• Daša Duhaček, PhD, coordinator

4. • Goal: to explore gender-based violence (GBV) in elementary
schools and high schools in Serbia
• Research participants: male and female students, 4th grade
elementary school to 4th year high school, as well as teachers and
psychologists and pedagogues
• Data collection: 50 schools (35 elementary schools and 15 high
schools)
• A total of 24 982 questionnaires were filled out.

5. Number of research participants
Male Female Total
Teachers 721 1816 2537
Psychology/Pedagogy
Service
10 71 81
Students in elementary
schools
6920 6689 13609
Students in high schools 4736 4019 8755
Total 12387 12595 24982
Structure of the sample

6. Results
• Gender-based violence (GBV) has now been
documented in elementary schools and high schools
in Serbia
• 69 % of elementary school students and 74 % of high
school students stated that they have experienced
some form of GBV since the beginning of the
2013/2014 school year.

7. Elementary
school
Grade
Total
IV V VI VII VIII
Number of
students.
1341 1595 1769 1966 1869 8540
% in grade
53% 61% 70% 79% 83% 69%
High school
Grade Total
I II III IV
Number of
students
1484 1664 1621 1388 6157
% in grade 69% 74% 77% 77% 74%
Students who have experienced at least one form of GBV

8. 23
19
11
44
6
34
23
40
Taking clothes off by force Encroachment of privacy Physical sexual harassment Vulgar bodily movement
Boys Girls
Prevalence of specific forms of GBV,
elementary school, in %

9. 16
18
40
19
43
5
21
51
14
39
Taking clothes off by
force
Encroachment of privacy Sexual objectification Exposed to pornography Vulgar bodily movement
Young men Young women
Prevalence of specific forms of GBV,
in high schools, in%

10. Gender of those who perpetrate GBV
• When students were asked about their
experience of GBV, they were also asked
about the gender and age of perpetrators
(male or female, peers or teachers).
• Boys constitute the majority of those who
perpatrated GBV against other boys and girls
alike.

11. Reporting GBV to emplyees of elementary schools
Verbal GBV physical sexual
harassment
Never
83%
Once or
twice
14%
3 or more
times 3%
Never
71%
Once or twice
23%
3 or more
times
6%

12. Reporting GBV to emplyees of elementary schools
Verbal GBV physical sexual
harassment
Never
82%
Once or twice
16%
3 or more times
2%
Never
91%
Once or twice
8%
3 or more times
1%

13. 19
8
44
9
64
69
60
27
11.5
5
18
8
16
12
16
21
Violence in romantic relationship Sexual harassment Blaming the victim of sexual
harassments
Violence against homosexual
persons
agree - boys undecided boys
agree – girls undecided - girls
Attitudes toward GBV,
students of 6th, 7th and 8th grade,
elementary schools

14. Attitudes toward GBV, students of 6th, 7th and 8th grade,
elementary schools
• More than 60% of students blame the victim of sexual
harassment.
• 60% of boys and 27% of girls justify violence against
homosexual persons.
• 44% of boys find that sexual harassment of girls is
acceptable.
• Close to 1 in 5 (19%) boys think that there are situations
when a boyfriend can slap his girlfriend.

15. Where do we go from here?
• 77 % of elementary school students and 69% of
high school students think that these topics
(gender roles, gender equality, GBV prevention)
should be discussed in school.
• 75% of elementary school emplyees and 68% of
high school employees stated that they are
interested in attending further training regarding
gender roles, gender equality, GBV prevention.

16. We are grateful to:
• Teachers, psychologists and pedagogues
• Women’s feminist nongovernmental organizations
• Unit for Violence Prevention, Ministry of Education,
Science and Technological Development, Republic of
Serbia
• UNICEF Office in Serbia
• Institute for Psychology, Philosophy Faculty, University
in Belgrade