Preventing violence against adolescent girls

Violence against adolescent girls has become a global problem. In both the developed and developing countries, hundreds of thousands of girls continue to live with violence in their homes, schools and communities. A recently published UNICEF report says that 'worldwide in 2012, violence took the lives of around 54,000 adolescent girls between the ages of 10 and 19, making it the second leading cause of death among this population group, after infectious and parasitic diseases' (Hidden in Plain Sight: A statistical analysis of violence against children, released in September 2014 by UNICEF).
Violence can take many forms, including physical, sexual and emotional. While all adolescents may experience violence, being a girl presents unique vulnerabilities - some with consequences that can last a lifetime. Gender discrimination, norms and practices mean that adolescent girls are likely to experience certain forms of violence, such as sexual violence, at much higher rates than boys. Girls are also more likely to be exposed to certain harmful practices, such as child marriage and female genital mutilation - both of which are direct manifestations of gender discrimination. The use of corporal punishment against younger adolescent girls is widespread. Adolescent girls continue to experience corporal punishment by parents into late adolescence, and at the same time become prone to acts of physical aggression by intimate partners. Unmarried girls are most likely to report physical violence at the hands of family members, friends or acquaintances and teachers.
One of the most pervasive forms of violence against adolescent girls is child marriage. Girls who marry are not only denied their childhood, they are often socially isolated - cut off from family and friends and other sources of support - with limited opportunities for education and employment.
Bullying is a problem worldwide; one in three girls between the ages of 13 and 15 worldwide experiences this new form of violence called 'bullying' on a regular basis.
Forced sexual intercourse and other forms of sexual coercion are not uncommon in the lives of many girls. Among adolescent girls who are subjected to sexual violence, the most likely perpetrator is an intimate partner/ husband. Research shows that girls who marry in childhood are at greater risk for intimate partner violence than same-age peers who marry later. Adolescents who are involved in informal relationships can be equally vulnerable to intimate partner violence.
Violence against adolescent girls is an acute problem that extends far beyond the confines of a community or country. It is proved that adolescent girls who have been severely abused or neglected are often hampered in their development. They experience learning difficulties and perform poorly at schools. They may have low self-esteem and suffer from depression, which can lead, at worst, to risky behaviours and self-harm. Experiences of sexual violence during childhood or adolescence hinder all aspects of development: physical, psychological and social. Research has also found that girls who have been sexually abused are at a higher risk of experiencing intimate partner violence and of being involved, or exploited, in sex work later in life. Early pregnancy can also be an unintended outcome for adolescent girls who have experienced the most severe form of sexual violence (i.e., forced sexual intercourse or rape).
The right of adolescent girls to be protected from all forms of violence and discrimination is guaranteed under the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), its Optional Protocols and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Violence against Women. Moreover, many countries, including Bangladesh, have legal frameworks that make sexual and physical violence against girls punishable under law.  Ending the cycle of violence against adolescent girls, however, requires more than the passage and enforcement of laws and conventions. Most importantly, girls must be empowered with the knowledge, skills, resources and options they need to reach their potential and serve as their own advocates. Providing adolescent girls with life skills education can help them develop critical thinking and build self-esteem. It is high time governments, the private sector, civil society organisations, parents, religious leaders, communities and individuals play an effective role in stopping the cycle of violence and in contributing to the empowerment of adolescent girls.

The writer is a researcher. [email protected]