We envision a world where every child and adolescent is safe, protected, and thriving.
The issue
Illustration: Mariam ElReweny
Violence against children and adolescents is a prevalent and devastating global crisis.
1 billion children have experienced sexual, physical, or emotional violence in the past year. That’s equivalent to one in every three children around the world.
Sexual violence is a notably taboo, and often hidden, form of violence.
Childhood sexual violence takes on many forms, including child sexual abuse and exploitation, intrafamilial sexual violence, rape, child marriage, dating violence, and sexual violence among peers.
It can happen to anyone, as children of every age, race, ethnicity, caste, religion, sexual orientation, and gender identity are impacted. It can happen anywhere — in homes, schools, places of worship, sports, and online.
Violence has far-reaching consequences and devastating long-term effects for individuals and communities. It is also linked with violence against women, perpetuated through harmful cycles across generations.
We know it doesn't have to be this way. The evidence is clear: violence is preventable, change is possible.
Decades of research show how effective solutions can prevent sexual violence, with policies and programs to ensure survivors access healing and justice.
We can create transformational change if we think strategically and act boldly. Together, we can — and must — create a safer world.
"Our work is fueled by hope because we know violence is preventable and change is possible. I am a researcher, a psychologist, and a survivor of childhood sexual violence. I've been sharing my story publicly for more than a decade because I know it doesn't have to be this way. We know what works. Now, it is on us to bring it to scale."
Daniela LigieroChief Executive Officer & President, Together for Girls
Our solution
Illustration: Mariam ElReweny
Ending violence against children cannot be solved by a single actor or sector alone.
In 2009, Together for Girls was founded to address a disturbing trend: Rates of HIV infection among adolescent girls were approximately five times higher than among adolescent boys.
Our partnership brings a public health approach to the human rights issue of sexual violence. We know achieving gender equality and ending violence against girls and women is critical to creating an HIV-free world.
Together for Girls connects partners around a common cause: to end violence against children and adolescents, with special attention to sexual violence. Through data and advocacy, our global partnership drives action to break cycles of violence and ensure prevention, healing, and justice.
OUR MISSION
Together for Girls was created to work across sectors with a comprehensive and holistic approach to preventing and responding to violence.
We understand that a multi-faceted problem like violence requires a multi-sectoral, radically collaborative solution. Our partners include survivor activists, civil society, national governments, United Nations entities, and the world's foremost leaders in global health, gender equity, development, and violence prevention and response.
We believe ending violence is essential to promoting and achieving individual rights, well-being, gender equality, and sustainable development.
The Together for Girls partnership is unique because we are...
Evidence-based
We generate and use data and evidence to guide the way.
Data-driven
We support the groundbreaking Violence Against Children and Youth Surveys (VACS); the largest global data source on violence against children and adolescents.
Country-specific
We focus on detailed, country-specific violence data on prevalence, perpetrators, consequences, locations, risk, and protective factors to guide effective and locally-relevant responses.
Connecting violence against women and violence against children
We connect strategies and interventions to end violence against children and violence against women.
Cross-sectoral
We unite different actors and disciplines that often do not work together to address a multi-faceted problem.
Experienced
We leverage decades of experience across the partnership from global leaders in sexual violence prevention, child protection, and gender-based violence.
Survivor-focused
We center the voices of survivors in order to build political will and shape policy agendas to drive change.
Innovative
We apply a public health perspective to the human rights issue of violence against children.
In a decade, Together for Girls has grown substantially, from working with a handful of countries to more than 20. Today, we are a leader on the frontlines of ending gender-based violence and violence against children and adolescents.
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country governments conducting Violence Against Children and Youth Surveys (VACS), the largest global data source on violence against children.
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of the world’s children, adolescents, and youth (under age 24) living in lower-income countries represented in Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) data, where data is often lacking.
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survivor activists leading the Brave Movement to End Childhood Sexual Violence, catalyzed by Together for Girls.
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country partners used their Violence Against Children and Youth Surveys (VACS) data to inform national policy and programmatic action - and counting.
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countries launched National Action Plans to end violence against children as part of their post-survey national response.
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national governments banned child marriage.
“Working with Together for Girls is the first time we have been able to bring together a multisectoral approach to this issue. Violence against children is not a matter of individuals; this is a community problem. We are grateful to be a part of this program and have the data and the tools to address the problem.”
María Juliana Ruiz SandovalFormer First Lady of Colombia
