A recent study published in 'The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health' reveals that approximately 19 million teenagers aged 15 to 19 are affected by violence, with significant regional disparities in prevalence.

The investigation analyzed data from 161 countries, focusing on the experiences of young women between 2000 and 2018, highlighting that 24% of young women experience violence worldwide.

The report indicates that violence rates vary dramatically by region, with 10% in Central Europe, 47% in Oceania, and 40% in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The study identifies that early forced marriages, particularly before the age of 18, significantly increase the risk of intimate partner violence due to power imbalances and economic dependency.

Socio-economic and cultural factors, especially in lower-income countries with limited access to secondary education for girls, exacerbate the risk of violence.

The WHO emphasizes that intimate partner violence has severe impacts on health, education, and future relationships, leading to increased risks of depression, anxiety, unwanted pregnancies, and STIs.

To combat these issues, the WHO calls for educational initiatives in schools to teach both boys and girls about healthy relationships and to promote women's and girls' rights.

In line with these efforts, the WHO plans to release new guidelines on the prevention of child marriage by the end of 2024.

Dr. Lynnmarie Sardinha from WHO stresses the importance of policies promoting gender equality and ending harmful practices like child marriage to combat gender-based violence.

Dr. Pascale Allotey, director of the WHO's sexual health department, emphasizes the urgent need for legislators to recognize intimate partner violence as a public health issue.

Alarmingly, no country is currently on track to meet the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal of eliminating violence against women and girls.