Together for GirlsWe can end Sexual Violence
Michele Moloney-KittsManaging Director, Together for Girls
Together for girlsWe can end sexual violence
Sexual violence – Global Data
• An estimated 150 million girls and 73 million boys experienced sexual violence in 2002.
• On average, up to 30 percent of women report their first sexual experience was forced. For girls under 15 at the time of their sexual initiation, up to 45 percent report that the experience was forced.
• UNICEF’s estimates, over 64 million women aged 20-24 years, or about 1 out of 3, were married or in union before the age of 18.
• Sexual violence directly affects the future of girls:▫ three times more likely to have an unwanted pregnancy and
girls under 15 are five times more likely to die in childbirth. ▫ higher risk of STD and HIV - in Swaziland more than three
times the risk ▫ higher school drop-out rates affecting large issues of
economic growth
Violence Against Children
Social, emotional, & cognitive impairment
Adoption ofhealth-risk behaviors
Disease, disability, and social problems
Earlydeath
The influence of violence against children throughout life
Birth
Death
Sexual Violence Prior to Age 18 Reported by Females 13–24 Years of Age, Swaziland - 2007 and Tanzania - 2009
4
Perc
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[Given that this is a non-technical, non-expert audience, I wonder whether a slide of this type may make people uncomfortable. I don’t suggest omitting it, but keep in mind the difference between this audience and the S. Africa audience.]
Challenges in the Response
Age (years)
Post-Rape Care Utilization
Post
-Rap
e C
are
Uti
liza
tion
R
ate
Risk Factors for Girls
•Lower social status ▫Increases vulnerability to violence and sexual
abuse▫Reduces protective networks leading to social
isolation•Socio-cultural norms and practices
▫ Silences open discussion about sexual violence and stigmatizes victims
•Physical and sexual violence is increased with alcohol abuse
Together for Girls A Unique Partnership
Together for Girls Three pillars of a comprehensive response
• Conduct national surveys and collect data▫ Led locally by governments and
civil society
• Support coordinated program actions at the country level▫ Builds on existing platforms▫ Policy and legal reform▫ Prevention ▫ Services for survivors
• Lead global advocacy and public awareness
©UNICEF/NYHQ2005-0944/Haviv
Government-led response – Swaziland and Tanzania
• Swaziland▫Established a child friendly corner with trained
staff in all police stations in the country ▫Trained the Ministry of Justice staff▫Trained Staff of 10 major hospitals/facilities in the
country on the case management of sexual violence
▫Instituted legal reforms
• Tanzania ▫National multi-sectoral plan – led by the Ministry of
Social Affairs, includes government and civil society
• Kenya, Zimbabwe, Haiti, Philippines, Vietnam – incorporating planning for national strategies from the outset
What can the private sector do?
• Contribute to Together for Girls and support our work on the ground
• Talk about violence, sexual violence, and the consequences to help destigmatize the issue
• Workplace programs - prevention and care; ▫ Early childhood development and parenting
support ▫ Engaging men and boys in the response;
address alcohol as an issue▫ Where women are the workforce be conscious
of risks to and from work; support comprehensive post-rape care services
• Support local organizations working to address the issue
www.togetherforgirls.org
TOGETHERWe can end sexual violence and
build a future where girls are safe, healthy and valued