Together for

Girls

“Ending violence against children is possible”

Three young girls sitting on the grass near a body of water, smiling and interacting with each other on a sunny day.

Our story

Founded in 2009 to address a disturbing trend where HIV infection rates among adolescent girls were five times higher than among boys, Together for Girls was created to bring a public health perspective to the human rights crisis of sexual violence. The organization functions as a massive public private partnership, uniting national governments, United Nations agencies, and civil society groups to collaborate across sectors. By driving the groundbreaking Violence Against Children and Youth Surveys, they generate country specific data that exposes the true magnitude of abuse. Today, the organization uses this powerful data alongside survivor led advocacy to shatter social silence, reform national policies, and build a safer world where every adolescent can access healing and justice.

Two young girls in yellow sweaters and pink skirts standing in front of a classroom with boys in yellow sweaters sitting at wooden desks, looking at their books.

The Together for Girls partnership is unique because they are...

Evidence-based

THEY generate and use data and evidence to guide the way.

Connecting violence against women and violence against children

THEY connect strategies and interventions to end violence against children and violence against women.

Data-driven

THEY support the groundbreaking Violence Against Children and Youth Surveys (VACS); the largest global data source on violence against children and adolescents.

Cross-sectoral

THEY unite different actors and disciplines that often do not work together to address a multi-faceted problem.

Survivor-focused

THEY center the voices of survivors in order to build political will and shape policy agendas to drive change.

Country-specific

We focus on detailed, country-specific violence data on prevalence, perpetrators, consequences, locations, risk, and protective factors to guide effective and locally-relevant responses.

Experienced

THEY leverage decades of experience across the partnership from global leaders in sexual violence prevention, child protection, and gender-based violence.

Innovative

THEY apply a public health perspective to the human rights issue of violence against children.

Violence is preventable, change is possible

In a decade, Together for Girls has grown substantially, from working with a handful of countries to more than 20. Today, we are a leader on the frontlines of ending gender-based violence and violence against children and adolescents.

What People Are Saying

A group of children and young adults participating in a community march or rally outdoors, some holding a sign and others engaged in conversation and smiling, with a background of trees, houses, and a fence.

"Working with Together for Girls is the first time we have been able to bring together a multisectoral approach to this issue. Violence against children is not a matter of individuals; this is a community problem. We are grateful to be a part of this program and have the data and the tools to address the problem."

— Government Ministry Representative, Reflecting on the implementation of the Violence Against Children and Youth Surveys (VACS)
Two young children, a boy with curly hair and a girl with straight dark hair, sitting on the floor and hugging each other, smiling, in a cozy indoor setting.

"Part of why I engage with this movement is because I feel a responsibility to give back, and to make things easier for those who are coming after me. We want to create a space so others have less stigma and less discrimination if they come forward, and where everyone can come together, regardless of their own personal experience, to demand change from institutions."

—Survivor-Advocate, Co-leading a national platform catalyzed by Together for Girls
Three children smiling and walking through a green cornfield, with tall stalks and leaves surrounding them.

"There is so much silence and shame around abuse and violence. I started sharing my own story over a decade ago because I was done carrying the shame. There are so many survivors out there and I was driven to be the voice breaking the silence so that others feel less alone and know that there is hope and the ability to heal. Together we are powerful and with our collective passion, dedication, and voice we will create transformational change for generations to come."

— Dr. Daniela Ligiero, CEO and President of Together for Girls
Two young girls smiling and hugging, one with black hair and the other with curly hair, in a close-up outdoor setting.

"Sexual violence against children, particularly girls, is universally condemned but occurs much more frequently than people realize. In partnership with national governments, civil society, and the private sector, Together for Girls brings vital attention to the issue by supporting country-driven efforts for change. Their work to integrate sexual violence prevention and support services into social welfare, health, education, and justice programs is essential to creating an HIV-free world and ensuring girls can grow up safe."

— Official Statement, UNICEF USA Partnership Review
A young girl with long blonde hair and long eyelashes is looking down while reading a book. She is wearing a red sweatshirt with cartoon characters on it, sitting at a desk in a warmly lit room.

"The core philosophy of Together for Girls is that to prevent violence, we must first understand it. Generating country-specific violence data on prevalence, perpetrators, consequences, and protective factors is what allows us to guide effective and locally-relevant responses. Watching this data turn into national laws that protect vulnerable youth proves that when we couple evidence with political will, change is entirely possible."

— Partnership Research Fellow, On the impact of the VACS Data-to-Action framework
Two women wearing white headscarves are smiling and laughing while holding a green coconut. They are outdoors with blurred trees in the background.

"The data provided by Together for Girls completely shifted how our local organizations approach protection. Instead of relying on general assumptions, we now have hard, undeniable facts about where and when our youth are most vulnerable. It has broken down the traditional silos between health workers, police, and schools, allowing us to build a unified safety net for adolescent girls in our communities."

— Civil Society Network Coordinator, Reflecting on regional policy reform
A woman reading a colorful book to a group of young children sitting on the floor, paying attention in a classroom setting.
Two young women in red athletic uniforms sitting on the ground outside against a teal wall, having a conversation.
A woman with a young child on her back washing clothes at a riverbank with trees and mountains in the background.

Why this organization impacts me

A young girl looking up at the camera while people around her sit on a colorful patterned carpet.

I am drawn to Together for Girls because they understand that solving a global epidemic takes more than working alone. They see how sexual violence against adolescent girls connects to bigger public health issues, like HIV and gender inequality. Rather than working separately, they unite national governments, United Nations agencies, and local survivors. It is inspiring to see an organization lead a global response while always putting survivor-led advocacy first. They show that real, lasting healing needs both strong political action and compassion at the community level.

See For Yourself!