Gender-based Violence in Malawi

Having experienced the violence young women are subjected to first-hand in Malawi, Abikanile, 17, is passionate about speaking up for girls’ rights – and she’s not afraid to let the world know what it’s like to be a young woman in her country.

“I was nearly raped by seven boys after I finished playing netball,” reveals 17-year-old Abikanile from Malawi. “Thankfully, I escaped as I used the self-defense moves I learned from my Girl Guides Club.”

Sexual violence is a major issue in Malawi, particularly for young women. “I am not the only one who was nearly raped,” says Abikanile. “We hear of so many girls being raped by their fathers, cousins, and other men, only to discover that the police didn’t do anything about it when it was reported.”Læs mere her!

Pakistani Girls Take a Stand Against Violence, Poverty, and Child Marriage

In Pakistan, an education is the difference between a life of poverty and a life of empowerment. But what is seen as a basic constitutional right isn’t that easy to access–especially if you’re a girl.

From poverty to persecution, there are numerous barriers that stand in the way of a girl’s education. Last October, things took a near fatal turn when 15-year-old activist Malala Yousafzai was shot by the Taliban because she stood up for her right to go to school.

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Protecting children from harmful practices in plural legal systems

Millions of children continue to suffer from various forms of harmful practices, such as female genital mutilation, early and forced marriage, female infanticide, bonded labour and accusations of witchcraft.

The UN Study on Violence against Children urged states to prohibit by law all forms of violence against children, including harmful practices.

This report reviews positive legislative developments in different regions of the world, with a special emphasis on Africa, to strengthen children’s legal protection from violence as a result of harmful practices, and addresses the interplay between statutory, customary and religious laws.

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Violence keeping children out of school, especially girls

A major focus of Plan's Because I am a Girl initiative is overcoming the barriers keeping girls from receiving a quality education and completing school. One major barrier stands in the way: the prevalence of violence in and around schools.

Although every child has a right to go to school without fear of being hurt, teased, abused or bullied, this is sadly not a reality for millions of children here at home and around the world – especially girls.

In our latest report, A Girl's Right to Learn Without Fear, we found that between 500 and 1.5 million children around the world experience violence every year, including girls right here in Canada.

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A girl’s right to learn without fear

Worldwide, 66 million girls are missing out on an education. This report focuses on one of the major barriers girls face: gender-based violence - sexual, physical and psychological - in and around schools.

Between 500 million and 1.5 billion children experience violence every year, many within school walls.

Girls are especially vulnerable to rape, exploitation, coercion and discrimination perpetrated by students and teachers.

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Violence against girls in and around school

“I am trying very hard to forget how it happened, but I am failing. I can’t just forget it; it’s like it’s just about to happen again, like it’s just happening. I remember every detail.” A 15 year old girl in Zambia who was raped by her teacher expresses her emotions. “I have been very much disturbed; emotionally disturbed and very much stressed.”

Every year, between 500 million and 1.5 billion children experience some sort of violence, often within school. This week Plan launches a global report on the scale of violence against girls around the world ahead of International Women’s Day on Friday 8th March.

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Girls speak out at the UN against school violence

Plan-supported girl delegates from around the world are at the United Nations in New York to speak out on girls' rights and highlight violence in schools - one of the biggest barriers girls face in completing an education.

Between 500 million and 1.5 billion children experience violence every year, many within school walls.

Girls are especially vulnerable to rape, exploitation, coercion and discrimination perpetrated by students and teachers. The consequences include unwanted pregnancies, poor performance at school and high dropout rates.

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Stop vold mod kvinder

Tusindvis af piger og kvinder er i disse dage samlet i FN i New York for at sætte fokus på vold mod kvinder. Blandt deltagerne er seks Plan-støttede piger, som taler mod vold i skolen – én af de største barrierer, der forhindrer piger i at få en uddannelse.

Pigerne fra El Salvador, Vietnam, Uganda, Norge og Finland deltager i den 57. Kommission for Kvinders Status, som altså finder sted i FNs hovedkvarter i New York den 4.-15. marts.

Pigerne har mulighed for at dele erfaringer og påvirke de repræsentanter fra medlemsstaterne, som nu skal formulere politikker, der fremmer pigers rettigheder og status på verdensplan.

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Plan Attends the 57th Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women

Plan International is pleased to attend the 57th Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women to be held March 4th through the 15th at the UN Headquarters in New York.

The theme of this year’s session will be the “elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls." The inclusion of girls within this year’s theme marks a turning point for the commission which has previously focused on equality for women while making special allowances for girls.

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Plan India on the instances of growing sexual violence against girls and women

Plan India strongly condemns the recent instance of physical and sexual assault on a young girl and the severe beating of her male companion in a public transport bus in Delhi on the 16th of December, 2012. The young girl died on the 29^th of December,2012.  The violent and extremely brutal nature of the attack on the girl has left us all shocked, angry and concerned about the safety of our country’s girls and women. We also wish to express our deep concern at the growing instances of sexual violence that are being reported against children and women across the country.

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Helping to end gender-based violence in the Dominican Republic

November 25th is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and Plan is working with communities in the Dominican Republic to raise awareness of the causes and consequences of gender-based violence.

The Dominican Republic suffers from high rates of domestic abuse, which has been further exacerbated by the recent influx of migrants from Haiti. By running workshops with young people and adults, Plan is helping to ensure that those at risk are aware of their rights and the protection available.

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