A Deep-Rooted Crisis
In Sub-Saharan Africa, the cycle of violence often begins early. Research shows that a third of East and Southern African women are already survivors of GBV by the time they enter the higher and tertiary education spaces. Further, higher education institutions — places meant to empower young minds — are often not immune to the scourge of GBV.
But since 2024, a new movement has been taking shape across campuses in the region through the Safer Campuses Campaign — one that is reclaiming universities as places of safety, dignity, and equality.
The Safer Campuses campaign: A movement of hope
A year ago, across Eastern and Southern Africa, UNESCO’s Safer Campuses Campaign, under the Our Rights, Our Lives, Our Future PLUS (O3 PLUS) programme was launched, rallying students, educators, and leaders to take a stand against GBV. The campaign was rolled out in six countries including Kenya, Namibia, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe, fostering a regional movement built on awareness, accountability, and action. UNESCO’s O3 PLUS programme was launched in 2021 in Zambia and Zimbabwe, with initial funding from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), but now runs across Namibia, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda with additional funding secured from the governments of Norway and Sweden until December 2025.
Tanzania: The march for change
For example, in Tanzania, over 400 students and teachers gathered in the Mwanza region to launch the Safer Campuses Campaign in November 2024. The event pulsed with energy — marches, performances, and speeches all echoing one united call: end GBV now.
“This campaign encourages us to break the silence,” said Samia Mussa, a student from St. Augustine University. “We are ready to take action.”
The initiative has since reached more than 100,000 learners across 26 campuses in mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar, focuses on improving student health and well-being while tackling GBV, early pregnancies, and HIV infections.
Uganda: Technology meets advocacy
At the Makerere University, a sea of students and educators gathered to launch the campaign in October in the same year. The day marked more than an event — it was a commitment to building safer, inclusive learning environments.
Minister of State for Higher Education Hon. Dr. John Chrysostom Muyingo hailed the initiative, noting that “through programmes like O3 PLUS, UNESCO is helping to transform the educational landscape in Uganda, ensuring that every student can thrive with dignity and respect.”
A highlight of the event was the launch of Yamba, a new digital platform providing access to sexual and reproductive health information, which continues to reach young people to this day – currently with 1500 users.
Kenya: Shattering silence, institutional change
In Nairobi, over two thousand students joined a spirited march against GBV, ending with an interactive “What Not to Say” wall — a creative space where students posted common phrases that harm survivors, turning silence into empathy and learning.
“The biggest challenge is overcoming cultural norms,” said Marvin Okello, a student and O3 PLUS Champion from the Kenya Medical Training College. “We struggle to convince victims to come forward, but change starts when we speak and I am confident this campaign will help.”
As part of the launch, the Students’ Wellness Centre and gender desk were also unveiled at the Kenya Medical Training College as critical support structures for students. These facilities continue to support the well-being of both students and staff, one year on.
Zimbabwe: From campaign to policy
In Zimbabwe, the national launch of the Safer Campuses Campaign was held at the Manicaland State University of Applied Sciences (MSUAS), bringing together several high-level officials and staff and students from other universities.
Representing the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology, Prof Fanuel Tagwira, Mr. Darlington Damba, Director for Tertiary Education Programmes, highlighted the importance of confronting gender-based violence in all its forms. “For too long, gender-based violence has been shrouded in silence and stigma,” Mr. Damba said. “Through the Safer Campuses Campaign, we can create a culture of openness and support, where survivors are encouraged to share their stories and bystanders are empowered to act.”
One year later, the Model and Benchmarking Anti-Sexual Harassment Policy was launched with support from UNESCO through the O3 PLUS programme, which sets out a clear framework to prevent and address harassment and sexual misconduct across all higher and tertiary education institutions, for the whole campus community.
From silence to solidarity
The Safer Campuses initiative is not just a campaign; it is an ongoing movement across the East and Southern African region, grounded in courage and collective will. It reminds us that safe campuses are not optional. They are essential for young people to thrive...and it all starts by #breakingthesilence!
