Ministry of Education Officials Coordinate with Anti-Domestic Violence Campaign in the Schools

Ministry of Education Officials Coordinate with Anti-Domestic Violence Campaign in the Schools
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 25/01/2012

The Ministry of Education´s Office of Gender Development and Education held a meeting-workshop on gender equality and socio-cultural issues. The objective of the meeting with regional school officials, was to coordinate the development of a school-based “Respectful Treatment and Right to Life,” campaign, which seeks to prevent gender violence in the schools.

The itinerary of the meeting-workshop included the presentation of goals and methodologies, an explanation of the campaign’s timeline – done by Víctor Nolasco, and the handing out of materials to participating regional school officials.

Additionally, the meeting examined how to promote the elements contained in this campaign and how to define a strategy for implementing the project in the 18 Regional School Districts under the Minister of Education (MINERD in Spanish), according to Esperanza Suero, director of MINERD’s Office of Gender Development and Education.

“This campaign seeks to deal with a problem that affects all of Dominican society and which manifests itself, for the most part, as violence against women although it also affects men,” explained Ms. Suero.

The education system, she said, is proposing preventative actions by working with children, teens and young adults. “The campaign is directed at the entire educational community. It is essential to understand that no one in this community is exempt from this, however, we are placing an emphasis on students of all levels and all modalities,” explained Suero.

The itinerary of the meeting-workshop included the presentation of goals and methodologies, an explanation of the campaign’s timeline – done by Víctor Nolasco, and the handing out of materials to participating regional school officials.

The Campaign

The “Respectful Treatment and Right to Life” campaign seeks to strengthen policies and actions that are designed to provide solutions to prevent and decrease gender violence in society and in the schools.

The launch of this MINERD initiative took place last December 6th and will conclude at the end of 2012. The campaign’s news and goals are being disseminated through the use of posters, brochures and bumper stickers with messages calling for gender equality in education, equal rights, respect for the integrity and dignity of all people and a call to live together in peace.

In addition, the campaign will organize more meetings and training sessions with students, teachers, parents, tutors, school directors, support staff and school security personnel.