In a stark revelation, the World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that close to 19 million teenage girls worldwide will experience physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence by the time they reach 20 years old.
This grim statistic, published in a new analysis in The Lancet Child and Adolescent Health, highlights the urgent need to address the epidemic of violence against adolescent girls globally.
“Partner violence can have devastating impacts on young people’s health, educational achievement, future relationships, and lifelong prospects,” warned Dr. Pascale Allotey, Director of WHO’s Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research Department. “From a health perspective, it heightens the likelihood of injuries, depression, anxiety disorders, unplanned pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, and many other serious conditions.”
The analysis found that one in six adolescent girls, or 16%, experienced such violence within the past year alone. Alarmingly, the prevalence is highest in lower-income regions, with Oceania at 47% and central sub-Saharan Africa at 40%.
Factors that increase girls’ risk include lower secondary school enrollment, weaker legal rights to property and inheritance, and the persistence of child marriage. Spousal age gaps that create power imbalances also play a significant role.
“The study highlighted the urgent need to strengthen support services and early prevention measures tailored for adolescents,” said Dr. Lynnmarie Sardinha, a WHO study author. “Countries must have policies and programs in place that increase equality for women and girls to end this gender-based violence epidemic.”
Experts agree that a multi-pronged approach is essential, involving everything from school-based education on healthy relationships to advancing women’s rights and economic empowerment. The time to act is now to protect the wellbeing and futures of millions of young women worldwide.
