WHO and UNFPA brief: 43 million girls aged 15-19 have faced intimate partner or sexual violence

6 October 2026

The World Health Organization published a 33-page technical brief on 5 October 2026, edited with the United Nations Population Fund.
It covers girls aged 15-19 and uses the 2023 global, regional and national violence against women prevalence estimates.
More than one in five ever-married or partnered adolescent girls have experienced physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence.
An estimated 43 million girls aged 15-19 have experienced intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both.
The brief names gender inequality and discriminatory social norms as drivers and notes substantial variation across regions and countries.
It recommends multisectoral prevention and response, survivor-centred services, sustained financing and stronger data, research and monitoring.