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Dramatically Reduce Gender-Based Violence and Harmful Practices

Eliminating the threat of gender-based violence and harmful practices is critical to safeguarding the dignity and wellbeing of girls and women and to cutting staggering costs due to violence.

Gender-based violence (GBV) is a phenomenon that transcends social, economic, and geographic borders. Impacting girls and women all over the world, GBV is fueled by multiple factors, including cultural norms, social acceptance of harmful practices, and insufficient legal protections. Recognizing these drivers has helped identify steps to lessen the vulnerability of girls and women to gender-based violence and to further secure their health, rights, and wellbeing.

1 in 3
1 in 3 women experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime, mostly by an intimate partner.
12 Million
Each year, 12 million girls are married before the age of 18.
200 Million
200 million girls and women in 30 countries have been subjected to female genital mutilation/cutting.
1.2-3.7%
Costs associated with gender-based violence can total 1.2% to 3.7% of a country’s GDP.

Investing in the elimination of GBV and harmful practices is both ethical and practical. While little evidence exists regarding the cost-effectiveness of GBV interventions, the costs of inaction — including physical and mental health impairments, loss of productivity, and costs related to social, legal, and medical service provision — are staggering.

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Build Sustainable Financing and Partnerships for Girls and Women
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Build Sustainable Financing and Partnerships for Girls and Women
The transformative power of girls and women is undeniable. It...
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Meet the Demand for Modern Contraception and Reproductive Health
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Meet the Demand for Modern Contraception and Reproductive Health
A woman’s access to modern contraception, reproductive healthcare, and the...
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Respect, Protect, and Fulfill Sexual Health and Rights
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Respect, Protect, and Fulfill Sexual Health and Rights
A world without fear, stigma, or discrimination is a prerequisite...
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Ensure Health For All
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Ensure Health For All
Healthy girls and women are the cornerstone of healthy societies.
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  • Enact and enforce comprehensive legal frameworks and policies to protect against GBV, including all forms of harassment and harmful practices, such as child, early, and forced marriage and female genital mutilation/cutting.
  • Create and enforce gender-responsive legal frameworks that address the increased vulnerability of women in emergency and conflict settings and support women’s protection and empowerment.
  • Recognize, plan for, and protect against the increased risk of gender-based violence and the breakdown of social and governmental frameworks during humanitarian crises.
  • Invest in prevention programs that end GBV and harmful practices, and empower girls and women to claim their rights.
  • Scale up efforts targeting harmful gender norms and educate young people, women, and men about GBV and harmful practices, including through community-based programs.
  • Train all health providers to address GBV and harmful practices to ensure that needed services are available, accessible, acceptable, and of quality for all.
  • Implement comprehensive sexuality education that addresses gender inequity, gender roles, GBV, and the rights of young people to seek services and justice.
  • Invest in the women’s movements in civil society.
  • Involve and encourage men and boys in efforts to change unequal gender norms, increase societal understanding of gender-based violence, and prevent violence against women at all levels.
Explore the Policy Brief
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Nice Nailantei, Amref Health Africa End FGM Global Ambassador and Women Deliver Young Leader, addresses the role of education in ending FGM and the role ending FGM can have in keeping girls in school. Discover how Amref works with communities to make this a reality.

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