Girls Advocacy Program Plan Ethiopia

Violence against girls and young women and the denial of their economic rights stand in the way of achieving meaningful gender equality. Serious violations of these human rights are affecting millions of girls and young women. Societies pay a high price for not tackling these issues. Gender Based Violence (GBV) is a common and widespread practice in Ethiopia. Study conducted by UNICEF (2009) reveals that 81% of children and women in the country encountered violence. One of the most common forms of GBV is domestic violence. This includes physical, psychological, sexual violence by family members or intimate partners. Different types of harmful practices are prevalent in the country. The most prevalent and life threatening practices are female genital mutilation (23% of 0-14 yr girls in 2011) and female circumcision , child marriage (17% of girls between 15 and 19 were married in 2014) and sexual violence. In 2010, 49% of children aged 15 and 16 years were out-of-school (almost 2 million - 53% girls). In 2008/09 girls comprised 27.6% of the total number of students enrolled in grades 11 and 12 (preparatory grades), 46.2% in technical and vocational training and 29% in higher education in 2007/08. Girls between the age group of 10 to 17 are the most affected by school drop-out. These groups are also more at risk of being trafficked, forced into commercial sex, and end up as domestic housemaids and subsequent labour and sexual exploitation.