Today is International Day of the Girl. This year, the day’s theme is: “EmPOWER girls: Before, during and after conflict.”
According to UNESCO, humanitarian crises hurt women and girls the most. They comprise more than three-quarters of the refugees and “dispaced persons at risk” from war, famine, persecution and natural disaster. They are then more vulnerable to sexual abuse and exploitation on their way to and in refugee camps. They are also vulnerable in their countries of origin.
“Every 10 minutes, somewhere in the world, an adolescent girl dies as a result of violence. In humanitarian emergencies, gender-based violence often increases, subjecting girls to sexual and physical violence, child marriage, exploitation and trafficking.