The World Health Organization (WHO) has revealed that nearly 19 million teenage girls worldwide experience physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence by the time they turn 20. This alarming statistic comes from a new analysis published in The Lancet Child and Adolescent Health.
Dr. Pascale Allotey, Director of WHO’s Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research Department, highlighted the severity of the issue, stating, “Intimate partner violence starts alarmingly early for millions of young women. This violence during formative years can cause profound and lasting harm, making it a serious public health issue that requires prevention and targeted support.”
The report states that one in six adolescent girls, or 16%, experienced intimate partner violence in the past year alone. This violence has severe consequences on young people’s health, education, future relationships, and overall life prospects. It increases the likelihood of injuries, depression, anxiety disorders, unplanned pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, and other physical and psychological conditions.
The analysis draws on existing data to provide a detailed look at the prevalence of physical and sexual partner violence among 15- to 19-year-old girls in intimate relationships. It also identifies social, economic, and cultural factors that increase their risks. Dr. Allotey emphasized, “High rates of violence against adolescent girls reflect deeply entrenched inequalities.”
The study found significant regional differences in the prevalence of such violence. The worst affected regions are Oceania (47%) and central sub-Saharan Africa (40%), while central Europe (10%) and central Asia (11%) have the lowest rates. Within countries, the prevalence ranges from 6% in the least affected countries to 49% in those with the highest rates.
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Intimate partner violence against adolescent girls is most common in lower-income countries and regions with fewer girls in secondary school and where girls have weaker legal rights. Child marriage, which significantly increases the risk of violence, creates power imbalances, economic dependency, and social isolation, making girls more vulnerable to abuse.
Dr. Allotey called for urgent action to strengthen support services and early prevention measures tailored for adolescents. This includes advancing women’s and girls’ rights and educating both boys and girls on healthy relationships through school-based programs. She noted, “Many adolescents lack financial resources, making it particularly challenging for them to leave abusive relationships.”
Dr. Lynnmarie Sardinha, a WHO study author, emphasized the need for policies and programs that promote gender equality. “To end gender-based violence, countries must ensure secondary education for all girls, secure gender-equal property rights, and end harmful practices like child marriage,” she said.
The WHO is supporting countries in measuring and addressing violence against women, with new guidelines on preventing child marriage planned for release by the end of 2024. The organization stresses that no country is currently on track to eliminate violence against women and girls by the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal target date, highlighting the urgent need for global action.