PAYSOD TALKS : "Empowering Adolescent Girls : Ending the Circle of Violence"
"Empowering Adolescent Girls : Ending the Circle of Violence"
Violence against girls, in all its forms, is a grave human rights violation rooted in gender inequality. Up to one-third of adolescent girls report their first sexual experience as being forced. At least 133 million girls and women have experienced female genital mutilation.
When an adolescent girl experiences violence, often perpetrated by those closest to her, she has limited choices and opportunities. Without redress, the effects of such violence will last throughout her lifetime and may extend to future generations.
Girls married young are more vulnerable to intimate partner violence and sexual abuse than those who marry later. They suffer complications during pregnancy and childbirth, with these complications being a leading cause of death in young women aged 15-19. This is a catastrophic loss of human potential.
Eradicating violence against the girl child is a critical area of concern. Protecting girls from all forms of violence and promoting girls’ empowerment must be at the heart of the global development agenda.
It is in our hands to make this possible, through provision of adequate services and comprehensive prevention efforts. By providing girls and women with access to education, by ensuring their sexual and reproductive health and rights, as well as engaging men and boys in the promotion of gender equality, we can protect and empower girls. By improving justice mechanisms and supportive services, we can crush impunity and mitigate the impact of violence on survivors.
Girls themselves are part of the solution. They are a powerhouse of talent, creativity and potential.
Summary of ending the cycle of violence
1. Make schools safe for girls
Around the world, 246 million girls and boys experience school-related violence every year, but World Education Initiative has established school and community-based empowerment clubs that provide girls with education about HIV prevention, reproductive health, leadership, life skills, and how to report abuse.
2. Stand against intimate partner violence (IPV)
In Tanzania, intimate partner violence (IPV) affects 44% of married women. The World Education Bantwana Initiative Utu Jinsia programme (“Dignity and Gender” in Swahili) will ensure that survivors of intimate partner violence get the support they need and deserve.
3. Mobilise communities to support victims of Gender Based Violence (GBV)
Survivors of GBV need the support of their communities.
4. Strengthen legislation and policy to support women and girls
5. Provide platforms for women and girls’ voices to be heard
Women and girls must have the ability to speak up about their rights in order to live safe and healthy lives. However, many girls do not feel comfortable expressing their concerns within their communities.
6. Help girls improve their self-esteem
A girl who survives violence is at risk of diminished self-esteem, which can have serious consequences on her well-being.
7. Reduce the vulnerability of adolescent girls and young women to HIV
Though there has been progress in global HIV response, as many as 7,000 new infections among females ages 15-24 occur each week in Eastern and Southern Africa.
8. Link survivors of physical and sexual abuse to health services
9. Give adolescent wives and young mothers alternative education platforms.
Violence against girls, in all its forms, is a grave human rights violation rooted in gender inequality. Up to one-third of adolescent girls report their first sexual experience as being forced. At least 133 million girls and women have experienced female genital mutilation.
When an adolescent girl experiences violence, often perpetrated by those closest to her, she has limited choices and opportunities. Without redress, the effects of such violence will last throughout her lifetime and may extend to future generations.
Girls married young are more vulnerable to intimate partner violence and sexual abuse than those who marry later. They suffer complications during pregnancy and childbirth, with these complications being a leading cause of death in young women aged 15-19. This is a catastrophic loss of human potential.
Eradicating violence against the girl child is a critical area of concern. Protecting girls from all forms of violence and promoting girls’ empowerment must be at the heart of the global development agenda.
It is in our hands to make this possible, through provision of adequate services and comprehensive prevention efforts. By providing girls and women with access to education, by ensuring their sexual and reproductive health and rights, as well as engaging men and boys in the promotion of gender equality, we can protect and empower girls. By improving justice mechanisms and supportive services, we can crush impunity and mitigate the impact of violence on survivors.
Girls themselves are part of the solution. They are a powerhouse of talent, creativity and potential.
Summary of ending the cycle of violence
1. Make schools safe for girls
Around the world, 246 million girls and boys experience school-related violence every year, but World Education Initiative has established school and community-based empowerment clubs that provide girls with education about HIV prevention, reproductive health, leadership, life skills, and how to report abuse.
2. Stand against intimate partner violence (IPV)
In Tanzania, intimate partner violence (IPV) affects 44% of married women. The World Education Bantwana Initiative Utu Jinsia programme (“Dignity and Gender” in Swahili) will ensure that survivors of intimate partner violence get the support they need and deserve.
3. Mobilise communities to support victims of Gender Based Violence (GBV)
Survivors of GBV need the support of their communities.
4. Strengthen legislation and policy to support women and girls
5. Provide platforms for women and girls’ voices to be heard
Women and girls must have the ability to speak up about their rights in order to live safe and healthy lives. However, many girls do not feel comfortable expressing their concerns within their communities.
6. Help girls improve their self-esteem
A girl who survives violence is at risk of diminished self-esteem, which can have serious consequences on her well-being.
7. Reduce the vulnerability of adolescent girls and young women to HIV
Though there has been progress in global HIV response, as many as 7,000 new infections among females ages 15-24 occur each week in Eastern and Southern Africa.
8. Link survivors of physical and sexual abuse to health services
9. Give adolescent wives and young mothers alternative education platforms.
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