In November, Colombia will host the inaugural Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children, focusing on achieving Sustainable Development Goal 16.2, which aims to eradicate abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against children by 2030. The conference’s objective is to drive national-level commitments to protect children, provide support to survivors, and prevent violence. Alarmingly, the World Health Organization estimates that as many as one billion children globally experience some form of sexual, physical, or emotional violence annually, with girls disproportionately affected. In the United States, one in four girls and one in thirteen boys fall victim to child abuse.
This conference closely follows the International Day of the Girl Child on October 11, a UN-designated day established in 2011 to spotlight the myriad challenges girls face worldwide. These include gender-based violence, child marriage, female genital mutilation, and exploitative labor. Girls face higher rates of physical, emotional, and sexual violence than boys, and the digital age has introduced new risks—one in ten girls reports experiencing online harm daily.
Conflict Zones: Unique Struggles for Girls
For the 89.2 million adolescent girls living in conflict-affected regions, the challenges are particularly acute. Violence is pervasive—over one in four girls in fragile settings endure sexual assault or rape—and their access to education and essential services is often severely compromised. For example, in Ukraine, Russia’s invasion has disrupted formal education, forcing children into makeshift classrooms in basements and subways. Hanna, a displaced girl, shared, “I couldn’t attend school for months. I didn’t have a laptop or internet access.”
The crisis is even more dire in Gaza, where 87% of schools are damaged, leaving 625,000 children out of school and over 11,000 children dead. Maryam, a young girl taking refuge in Deir al-Balah, lamented, “Because of the war, we were displaced, and there is no education anymore. Our lives now revolve around fetching water and food. I want to learn.”
In Afghanistan, girls are banned from schooling beyond the sixth grade, while in South Sudan, a girl is statistically more likely to die during childbirth than to complete primary education.
The Scourge of Sexual Violence
Sexual violence against girls remains a grim reality. A 2021 World Health Organization report estimates that 120 million girls under the age of twenty have been subjected to sexual violence by someone other than an intimate partner. Furthermore, one in four girls in relationships—nearly 19 million globally—experiences abuse. Girls in low-income countries or living in poverty are particularly vulnerable. For instance, reports of rape involving girls as young as nine have emerged in Sudan amidst the ongoing civil war.
Barriers such as limited access to secondary education and the prevalence of child marriage further expose girls to intimate partner violence. In regions where child marriage is common, girls face increased risks of abuse and reduced opportunities for personal development.
Child Marriage and Its Harmful Consequences
Child marriage continues to hinder millions of girls from realizing their potential. Each year, over 21 million girls become pregnant, with 12 million giving birth, often facing heightened medical risks, including infections and complications. The 2030 Accelerator Roadmap, spearheaded by Girls Not Brides, aims to dismantle the societal norms and practices fueling child marriage. Fanta Toure, director of the Girls First Fund, emphasized the importance of addressing root causes, stating that policymakers must “dismantle the norms that keep girls captive.”
Empowering Girls for the Future
The United Nations has chosen to focus on enabling girls to envision a brighter, more equal future. Data from UNICEF highlights that girls in countries with lower gender inequality report higher life satisfaction. In anticipation of the November conference, Makadidia, a 17-year-old from Mali, shared her aspirations: “With collective will and a commitment to change, we can create a future where opportunities for young girls multiply, their dreams come true, and equality becomes an unquestionable reality within 5 to 10 years.”
By tackling violence, expanding educational opportunities, and addressing systemic inequalities, the global community has the chance to empower girls to shape a future defined by equality and hope.