Advance the Rights of Adolescent Girls

We strengthen grassroots programs and advance global policies that ensure adolescent girls get the information, services, skills, and support they need to protect their health and human rights. We believe that girls must be able to control their lives and bodies in order to live up to their full potential.

Helping Young Women and Girls Thrive in Kenya’s Kisumu County

Southwestern Kenya has the worst statistics in the country with respect to teen pregnancies and STIs amongst girls, and high rates of maternal mortality, and unsafe abortions. Monica Oguttu talks about what her organization, KMET, is doing to help adolescent girls and young women be healthy and thrive.

The Girl Declaration: A Call to Action for the Post-2015 Development Agenda

We asked 508 adolescent girls living in poverty in 14 countries around the world about their hopes and dreams, the challenges they face in their lives and the solutions they think are most important.

Stemming Violence Through Education in South Africa

By Jocelyn Berger
•
July 18, 2017

Providing comprehensive sexuality education to adolescents can help combat the surge of sexual and gender-based violence in South Africa.

Tanzania is Playing a Dangerous Game with Girls’ Lives

By Helena Minchew
•
July 12, 2017

Tanzania’s President, John Magufuli, recently said pregnant students should not be allowed to return to school. Tanzania's ban on pregnant adolescent girls in school is harmful for girls, their families, and the country as a whole.

Theory of Change for Sexuality Education in Latin America

By Elvia Vargas Trujillo
•
July 5, 2017

A Q&A with Professor Elvia Vargas Trujillo on the first-ever Theory of Change for Comprehensive Sexuality Education in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Taking the Mystery out of Menstruation

By Michelle Truong
•
May 26, 2017

Many girls in developing countries start their periods uninformed, unprepared, scared, and ashamed, according to a new literature review. They need more support in understanding and handling menstruation.

Girls Empowered: Building on Progress from 2016

By IWHC Staff
•
May 25, 2017

IWHC and our many local partners are not afraid to conduct hard-hitting advocacy to defend girls’ rights and hold leaders accountable to their promises.