Invest in Youth for a Future without Violence against Adolescent Girls

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Attacking the root causes is a strategic lever for preventing sexual exploitation and abuse of children.” – Dr Annick Andriamaro, Country Director of ECPAT France in Madagascar

Group of young Indian girls outside posing for a group photo and holding with their hands certificates
Young girls who have benefitted from government's social entitlement scheme for continuing education ("Savitribai Sukayna Samriddhi Yojana"). Credit: C3

Despite global efforts, adolescent girls continue to face alarming risks of violence and exploitation. However, gaps persist in approaches tailored to their unique needs. Addressing these gaps is essential to creating a future where girls can thrive, free from fear.

In 2021, the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women (UN Trust Fund) launched a Prevention Series: Learning from Practice, led by civil society practice-based insights, highlighting ten pathways to prevent violence against women and girls. The adolescent-focused brief in this series provided practical guidance for practitioners and donors, urging them to address the specific needs and risks that young girls face.

Violence against Adolescent Girls: A Global Problem 

In early 2024, 17-year-old Sunita found herself in an impossible situation. Her parents arranged her marriage without her consent. Despite the pressure, she was determined to avoid becoming a child bride.

"I want to go to school, get a job, and become economically independent," she said as she sought help from the local Village-Level Child Protection Committee (VLCPC). Thanks to their intervention, Sunita's parents eventually supported her dreams, allowing her to continue her education.

Sunita’s story is one of rare triumph in a country where 1.5 million girls are married off each year. [1] The VLCPC, facilitated by Centre for Catalyzing Change (C3), a women-led organization and UN Trust Fund partner, is part of an effort to protect adolescent girls from early marriages and ensure they stay in school.

Across the ocean in Madagascar in a rural area of Ambohijanaka, a tragic story takes place. At just 14 years old, Fanou gave birth to a child conceived through rape. But her journey to reclaim her future began when she joined vocational workshops run by ECPAT France, another UN Trust Fund partner working to end violence and exploitation of girls.

"My mother told me about an association that could help me continue my studies, so I went," Fanou shared. In Madagascar, where one in three women experience violence ranging from rape and sexual exploitation (in the forms of trafficking in persons and child sex tourism) to early marriage and forced pregnancies [2], organizations like ECPAT France provide a lifeline for adolescent girls to rebuild their lives after unspeakable trauma.

Group of young people sitting at tables and writing, their back is to the camera, they seem to be inside a classroom
Young project participants taking part in a vocational training. Credit: ECPAT

Civil Society-Led Efforts to Keep Adolescent Girls Safe

Organizations like C3 and ECPAT France are among the 191 UN Trust Fund grantees working tirelessly to protect adolescent girls. In Jharkhand, where child marriage affects nearly one in four girls aged 15-19, C3 has made a powerful impact.[3] In 2024 alone, their education enrichment camps have enabled 1,324 at-risk girls to continue their studies, helping them avoid the fate of becoming child brides.

Through 476 group sessions, C3’s peer educators are also raising awareness about the importance of girls’ education and the dangers of early marriage. Vandana Nair, Lead on Adolescents and Young People at C3, believes long-term success requires "rigorous and continuous engagement with stakeholders" to challenge deeply ingrained social norms.

In Madagascar, ECPAT France is scaling up its initiative, MIRA, building stronger collaborations with government entities to protect more girls from sexual exploitation. Since its launch, MIRA has reached over 600 survivors or at-risk girls, as well as 650 duty bearers, community members and service providers.

ECPAT France has gone beyond just helping girls. Their action reflection groups challenge harmful stereotypes around masculinity, encouraging men to take part in the fight against gender-based violence. More than 4,100 men have participated in these critical discussions, changing attitudes in their communities.

Additionally, in the past six months, eight more school clubs in Mahajanga city in the Boeny region and Nosy Be island off the north-west coast of Madagascar have been established and have run six training sessions, welcoming 176 young members. The next step is for youth representatives from neighbourhood clubs and schools to lead online awareness campaigns about violence against women and girls.

Investing in the Future

While the stories of Sunita, Fanou, and countless others showcase resilience and hope, they also underscore the urgent need for greater investment in these life-changing programs. Civil society and women’s rights organizations, like C3 and ECPAT France, are vital in protecting young girls from violence and helping them secure their futures.

Sitraka, a 17-year-old survivor of prolonged sexual exploitation in Madagascar, now has a hopeful vision for her life. With the support of ECPAT France, she dreams of becoming an accountant. "We learned about children’s rights, that we should study, have food, and be healthy," she said, adding with pride, "When I finish my studies, I will look for work!" 

Their stories remind us that when we invest in girls, we invest in a brighter, more just world.

[1] https://www.unicef.org/india/what-we-do/end-child-marriage 

[2] https://www.unfpa.org/news/fighting-justice-against-gender-based-violence-madagascar 

[2] Jejeebhoy, S.J. 2019. Ending Child Marriage in India, Drivers and Strategies. New Delhi: UNICEF.