International Women’s Day: UNICEF Says Adolescent Girls Are At High Risk Of Sexual Violence

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Sexual abuse including physical, emotional and sexual harm is prevalent in our communities. It’s not uncommon to hear such cases in the news. RAINN statistics show that females between the ages of 16-69 are four times more likely to be victims of seual assault, rape and attempted rape compared to the general population. One in 53 boys and one in nine girls below the age of 18 suffer sexual assault or abuse at the hands of an adult. Additionally, 82% of all the sexual abuse victims are females below the age of 18.

Individuals who abuse teenagers are mostly known and trusted members of an abused teen’s community. 93% of child sexual assault incidents are in the hands of family members or someone the child knows. At a media dialogue to celebrate International Women’s Day 2024, UNICEF’s Bauchi Field officer, Tushar Rane, said that there’s still an increased rate of sexual abuse among teenagers. The day’s theme is ” Invest in Women, She is the Solution.”

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reiterates that adolescent girls in developing countries continue to face the risk of sexual violence. Tushar asserted that one in seven girls in developing countries is married off before she hits the age of 15. Tushar also commented that the investments in the health and rights of adolescent girls create a transformative ripple effect to uplift entire countries. He said,  “Nearly half of adolescent girls in UNICEF programme countries suffer from anaemia and lack of access to essential health and nutrition services in the event of pregnancy,” 

According to Tushar, if the trend continues, the number of girls and women living in abject poverty in sub-Saharan Africa is likely to increase by 2030. The UNICEF Chief reiterated that providing adolescent girls with support and opportunities that enable them to realise their potential will enable them to become agents of change. He said, “Empowered girls can play a crucial role in tackling some of the most pressing global challenges such as climate change, poverty and conflict.

Their contributions pave the way for inclusive and sustainable development, shaping a brighter future for generations to come.

“The investment in women through the (Mama2Mama Initiative), including strengthening women’s knowledge of community health systems has contributed to positive health outcomes in UNICEF’s intervention states.”

Tushar called on everybody to push for a world that’s characterized by inclusivity and equity where boys and girls are empowered to benefit from similar rights, opportunities and protections to foster a society where everyone could thrive.

International Women’s Day (IWD) is a day celebrated globally and annually on March 8 as a focal point in the women’s rights movement. It focuses on issues such as reproductive rights, gender equality and abuse against women.

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