76% of Dominican girls have suffered violence during their childhood and adolescence

Santo Domingo. – UNICEF called for the recognition, protection, and empowerment of girls’ leadership in the Dominican Republic, emphasizing the need to ensure their emotional well-being and their right to grow up free from violence and discrimination.

Under the global slogan “I am the girl, I lead change,” UNICEF’s representative in the country, Anyoli Sanabria, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to the rights of girls and young women, especially in contexts marked by gender inequality and structural violence.

“Girls have the right to grow up without fear, to learn without violence, and to dream without limits. Listening to them and supporting their leadership skills is essential for building a more just and resilient future,” Sanabria said.

Violence and inequality: an invisible burden for girls

Although Dominican girls’ school attendance and completion rates are higher than those of boys, they face numerous structural barriers that affect their overall development and mental health. These include teenage pregnancy, early marriage, unpaid domestic work, and high levels of physical, emotional, and sexual violence.

According to the UNICEF report on the situation of children and adolescents in the Dominican Republic, 76% of adolescents aged 15 to 17 have been victims of some form of violence, 52.2% report sexual violence, and 45.5% have experienced physical or psychological abuse in the school environment.

These figures reveal an alarming and normalized reality in which violence not only affects girls’ present, but also their future opportunities and emotional stability.

“Every girl faces a double burden: she must survive violence while constantly proving her worth. Her physical and emotional integrity and her leadership skills go hand in hand,” added Sanabria.

UNICEF

In addition, there are calls to invest in mental health services that meet the organizational needs of girls and young women, and to strengthen public policies that combat gender-based violence in all its forms.

“Investing in girls means investing in a more equitable, resilient, and prosperous country. They are not only the future, but also the present of the social change we need,” Sanabria concluded.