An estimated one in three girls and women experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetimes; 12 million girls marry before their 18th birthday each year; and at least 200 million girls and women alive today have undergone female genital mutilation, most before or during adolescence. Gender inequality, combined with unequal age-based power dynamics and discrimination, means that adolescent girls, particularly the most marginalized and deprived, are being left behind for progress on gender equality.

We need to prioritize collective and coordinated action, inclusion of girl-led solutions, and concrete policy and political commitments backed by funding and accountability measures in order to prevent and respond to gender-based violence experienced by girls, particularly child marriage, and to ensure girls globally are able to grow up safe, healthy, and educated.