Safety States must ensure the safety of children, in particular girls, on their way to and from school.303 States must provide a safe environment at school for all children. States must ensure that both girls and boys are safe at school from acts of bullying, sexual harassment and violence (including corporal punishment) and provide a mechanism to enable girls, in particular, to report in complete confidentiality and security any such acts. Girls in particular suffer sexual assault and harassment by male teachers and classmates. The education authorities are often unaware of such assaults and may even be reluctant to intervene.304 Participation States must ensure that boys and girls have the same opportunities to participate actively in sports and physical education.305 In particular, States must guarantee sufficient physical space for girls’ play and sport on an equal footing with boys.306 Further, States must allow girls and women to play an active part in identifying their educational, social and cultural needs. Child labour Child labour in the form of domestic work, both paid and performed in conditions of virtual slavery, is a major cause of exploitation and violence and has kept millions of girls out of school.307 Girls’ domestic obligations are rooted in customs and traditions that afford men preferential treatment, provoke school dropout at earlier ages than boys and are normally reinforced by stereotypes in textbooks and classroom activities.308 However, in some countries, particularly in East Asia and the Pacific, a higher percentage of girls are enrolled for school than boys.309 For example, the Philippines reports a higher boys’ dropout rate, 303 CESCR General Comment No. 16: The equal right of men and women to the enjoyment of all economic, social and cultural rights E/C.12/2005/4 11 August 2005 at para 30. 304 Report of the Special Rapporteur on the right to education Girls’ right to education E/CN.4/2006/45 8 February 2006 at para 104. 305 CEDAW article 10(g). 306 Report of the Special Rapporteur on the right to education Girls’ right to education E/CN.4/2006/45 8 February at para 104. 307 Report of the Special Rapporteur on the right to education Girls’ right to education E/CN.4/2006/45 8 February 2006 at para 67. 308 Report of the Special Rapporteur on the right to education Girls’ right to education E/CN.4/2006/45 8 February 2006 at para 69. 309 See The State of the World’s Children 2006: Excluded and Invisible (UNICEF 2005) at 8 and 19. This publication is available at http://www.unicef.org/sowc06/ (last accessed 4 December 2006). 110