The World Health Organisation (WHO) reports that nearly 19 million adolescent girls will have experienced physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence by the age of 20. A new analysis in The Lancet Child and Adolescent Health reveals that 16% of adolescent girls faced such violence in the past year. Dr. Pascale Allotey of WHO emphasizes the severe and lasting harm caused by intimate partner violence during these formative years, highlighting it as a significant public health issue requiring targeted prevention and support.
The analysis shows high rates of violence against adolescent girls, with regional variations—Oceania and central sub-Saharan Africa having the highest rates, while central Europe and central Asia have the lowest. Intimate partner violence is more prevalent in lower-income countries, where fewer girls attend secondary school, and girls have weaker legal rights. Child marriage and spousal age differences also increase risks.
Dr. Lynnmarie Sardinha, another WHO expert, stresses the need for policies promoting gender equality, secondary education for girls, and the end of harmful practices like child marriage to reduce gender-based violence. WHO is working with countries to measure and address violence against women, with new guidelines on preventing child marriage expected by the end of 2024.