violence against children WORLD REPORT ON - CRIN

128Violence against children in schools and educational settingsfrom school for at least one of the previous30 days because they were worried about theirsafety. 93 In the USA, some research has suggestedthat in schools where boys are carryingweapons, girls are also more likely to carryweapons. 94Studies from Canada suggest weapon-carryingin schools is as common in Canada as it is inthe USA. 95 An analysis of school suspensionsin Nova Scotia found that around half weredue to carrying a weapon. Whether weaponcarryingis a rising or decreasing phenomenonin North American schools is a subject ofdebate. The same is true of Western Europeanschools, though evidence suggests that physicalviolence of all kinds has remained fairlyconstant. 96 In other regions, weapons are oftenassociated with gang violence.The development of peer groups is a naturalpart of school life, but gangs also develop inthe school environment. These groups are distinguishedfrom other peer groups by moreformal structures and rituals. Gang violencein schools would appear to be most prevalentin places where violence in the whole of societyis common. Participants in the CaribbeanRegional Consultation for this Study reportedthat gangs, gang violence outside schools andgang violence in schools have all grown in parallel.These participants reported that gangviolence in schools includes severe beatings,stabbings and shootings, and tends to be moresevere than other forms of violence in schoolsbecause it is associated with trafficking of illicitdrugs. 97,98 Participants in the Latin AmericanRegional Consultation reported similar parallelgrowth in gang violence in and outsideschools. 99 (See the chapter on violence againstchildren in the community.)Impacts of violenceat schoolThis section outlines the possible impacts ofviolence at school. However, it is important tonote that these consequences are not inevitable.In fact, they are largely preventable and can besignificantly reduced by effective interventions,which are discussed in subsequent sections.Health impactsViolence in school can have a physical impact,cause psychological distress, permanent physicaldisability and long-term physical or mentalill-health. Physical impacts are the most obviousand may include mild or serious wounds,bruises, fractures, and deaths by homicide orsuicide. Sexual assault may lead to unwantedand early pregnancy and sexually transmittedinfections, including HIV/AIDS. 100 Thepsychological impacts may include immediateimpairment of emotional development andlong-term mental distress and ill-health, whichcan contribute to physical ill-health as well.A number of studies have shown correlationsbetween corporal punishment and poor mentalhealth. 101 While most have focused on corporalpunishment within families, some havefocused on corporal punishment in schools.One European study on personal histories ofdepressed children found that corporal punishmentin schools was the strongest past pre-