Education as a Catalyst for Breaking Cycles of Violence Against Girls

TW: The editorial mentions sexual violence. 

Alejandra was just 13 years old when her teacher raped her. A young girl from Tenango del Valle (Mexico), Alejandra found her voice through education after she met Esperanza, leader of the local ddeser, a network of women and young activists that defends sexual and reproductive rights. “She supported me in every way - she cared about my life, and she helped my entire family,” Alejandra said. 

Esperanza helped her access legal aid, counselling and rights workshops through Equidad de Género, Ciudadanía, Trabajo y Familia [1] (Equidad), an organization supported by the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women. As a result, Alejandra gained the knowledge and confidence to file a legal complaint against her abuser.  

Equidad is tackling violence against adolescent girls in 12 municipalities in Mexico that have high rates of gender-based violence and child pregnancy against a backdrop of marginalization of women and Indigenous communities, who are further vulnerable due to high levels of organized crime and human trafficking. 

Building Safer Communities Through Education 

“Education was one of the fundamental pillars of this project, as it allowed girls and adolescents to know their rights, identify risky situations, and increase their capacities to make informed decisions about their bodies and their future.” Erika Yamada Kubo, Research and Project Coordinator at Equidad, explains. 

In Mexico, while total fertility rate falls below 2.1, [2] adolescent birth rates are still among the highest in the world for women aged 15-19 years. [3] For many adolescent girls, especially in Indigenous communities, “it is common for young women to become pregnant at an early age and motherhood is seen as the only option,” explained Erika. Additionally, she said, “girls remain trapped in situations of violence because the aggressors are close relatives or because violence is so normalized that it becomes part of their daily reality.”  

To tackle these issues, Equidad runs dedicated workshops on gender, human rights, sexual violence, dating violence, contraceptive methods and gender-based violence. It also provides workshops for adolescent men and boys on preventing violence and challenging machismo, stereotypes and sexist gender roles.  

In addition, Equidad works directly with parents and caregivers of adolescent girls on their role in preventing violence and abuse, and involves them in municipal support networks . “These networks have … generated a safer and more supportive environment for all women in the community,” said Erika. 

These support networks, though evolving uniquely in each municipality, were built on the active involvement of local women committed to change. In the State of Mexico and Tlaxcala, community leaders such as midwives and traditional birth attendants lead local support networks for survivors; while in Puebla, women working in markets, beauty salons and other local spaces have become key allies and, at times, are the first point of contact for survivors of violence.  

Between September 2024 and February 2025 alone, Equidad ran 45 workshops, 34 reflection sessions with adolescent girls, and 69 plays to train and communicate topics of ending violence against girls to over 7,700 community members. 

With Communities, For Communities 

“In our work with rural Indigenous communities, we have taken a direct approach with local and school authorities, recognizing the importance of respecting and valuing local traditions.” shared Erika.  

Equidad also works with over 800 women and girls in Indigenous communities across these municipalities. “Addressing issues of violence against young women and girls in their mother-tongue is fundamental,” said Erika who described the organization’s many initiatives to ensure Tlahuica people can participate fully in the workshops. 

Equidad has also adapted its approach to awareness-raising in Indigenous communities, emphasizing identification of violence and ending the victim-blaming culture. This has led to important changes in mindset. For example, in Tlaxcala, some Indigenous women have denounced aggressors and left violent husbands. In Villa Guerrero, young women and adolescent girls working in floriculture expressed a desire to use their earnings to continue their studies instead of pursuing the traditional gender roles; teenage mothers also conveyed their changes in expectations for their daughters’ future. 

Erika said, “Our approach is always based on respect for cultural diversity … without imposing external solutions, but rather promoting transformation from within the communities.” 

Alliances for Sustainable Change 

Besides working with local leaders and communities, Equidad expands its work with duty-bearers and teachers through strengthening their understanding of violence against young women and adolescent girls, as well as focusing on implementing action protocols that support in channeling and handling cases reported.  

In Edomex where Alejandra’s case occurred, state leaders of ddeser like Esperanza plays an important role in accompanying survivors to seek justice. When Alejandra spoke up about the violence she faced, Esperanza immediately mobilized her connections to ensure that complaints were filed with the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office. “Today I can say that, despite the continuing process [of healing], I see clarity and my fears are subsiding.”, shared Alejandra. 

Alejandra is one of the 5,533 survivors of violence who, thanks to the work of women leaders in these states, received support and access to justice during the implementation of this project by Equidad. Through this effort, the lives of thousands of girls and women were transformed, and today, they stand as testimonies of dignity and resilience. 

[1] In English: Gender Equality, Citizenship, Work and Family. 

[2] The total fertility rate (TFR) of 2.1 is often referred to as the "replacement-level fertility." A TFR of 2.1 ensures a stable population size over time in the absence of migration. See more here in World Fertility Report 2024. 

[3] Kiyomi Cadena, Paola Buitrago-Hernandez, Gabriela Inchauste, “Preventing teenage pregnancy: A priority for the well-being of women in Mexico”, World Bank Blog, April 13, 2022. Accessed February 26, 2025.