Every year, millions of girls are subjected to practices that harm them physically and emotionally, with the full knowledge and consent of their families, friends and communities. Such practices result in acute and often irreversible harm but may be accepted as normal, even beneficial.
The harmful practice is "The Act That Harms and Violates a Girl’s Body is Only the Start of a Cascade of Harms".
Every day, hundreds of thousands of girls around the world are subjected to practices that harm them physically or psychologically, or both, with the full knowledge and consent of their families, friends and communities.
The practices reduce and limit their capacity to participate fully in society and to reach their full potential. The impact ripples throughout society and reinforces the very gender stereotypes and inequalities that gave rise to the harm in the first place.
This year's report focuses on three widespread harmful practices: female genital mutilation, child marriage and son preference.