School violence refers to physical, psychological, and sexual violence that takes place in school, on the way to school, online, and wherever school relationships exist. Some forms of school violence may be explicitly or implicitly  ender-based. School related gender-based violence (SRGBV) is defined as acts or threats of sexual, physical or psychological violence occurring in and around schools, perpetrated as a result of harmful gender norms and stereotypes, and enforced by unequal power dynamics (UNESCO and UN Women, 2016). In a holistic approach to addressing school violence, including SRGBV, teachers have key roles at multiple levels.

Drawing primarily on two recent studies, this brief highlights the experiences and voices of teachers in the Asia-Pacific region and argues for greater investment in teachers’ professional development in violence prevention and response, as well as improvements in supportive structures in the education system.