Nearly 25% of Adolescent Girls Experience Physical Violence

Author: UNICEF
Published: 10th Oct 2014 - Updated: 23rd Jan 2016
Peer-Reviewed Publication: N/A
Additional References: Adolescent Girls Publications

Summary: UNICEF data reveals magnitude of violence against adolescent girls and alarming attitudes that perpetuate such abuse.

Main Document

The compilation incorporates a selection of global data released throughout the year, detailing the very real impact violence has on adolescent girls, their futures, and that of their communities and countries.

Key statistics include:

• Almost one quarter of girls aged 15 to 19 worldwide (approximately 70 million) report being victims of some form of physical violence since age 15.
• Around 120 million girls under the age of 20 worldwide (about 1 in 10) have experienced forced intercourse or other forced sexual acts, and one in 3 ever-married adolescent girls aged 15 to 19 (84 million) have been victims of emotional, physical or sexual violence committed by their husbands or partners.
• Data suggest that in some countries, as many as seven in 10 girls aged 15 to 19 who had been victims of physical and/or sexual abuse had never sought help: many said they did not think it was abuse or did not see it as a problem.
• Worldwide, more than 700 million women alive today were married before their 18th birthday. More than one in three (about 250 million) entered into union before age 15.

The data reveal damaging perceptions on the acceptability of violence, particularly among girls. Globally nearly half of girls aged 15 to 19 believe a man is justified in beating his wife or partner under certain circumstances such as refusing to have sex, leaving the house without permission, arguing, neglecting the children or burning the dinner.

"These numbers speak to a mindset that tolerates, perpetuates, and even justifies violence - and should sound an alarm to everyone, everywhere," said UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Geeta Rao Gupta.

UNICEF points to specific actions to prevent violence against girls. They include: keeping girls in school; providing them with critical life skills; supporting parents, including with cash transfers to mitigate risks to girls; changing attitudes and norms through community conversations; and strengthening judicial, criminal and social systems and services.

"The problem is global but the solutions must be found at the national, community and family level. We have a responsibility to protect, educate, and empower adolescents. We are all accountable for ending violence against girls," said Rao Gupta.