This year’s theme for the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Unite to End Digital Violence reminds us of an essential truth: violence evolves, and our strategies to fight it must evolve too. Today, one of the fastest-growing forms of abuse facing women and girls, especially in African communities, is digital violence.

Globally, one in three women has experienced physical or sexual violence. Behind that grim statistic are the stories of countless women and girls whose rights have been violated. Through our latest Gender Equality Data Collaborative (GEDC) Data Sprint, nearly 1,700 women and girls across eight African countries bravely shared their stories. Sixty-seven percent reported past physical violence, and 40 percent reported having survived sexual violence.

As part of the ACESWorld VAWG Data Sprint, GEDC organizations have completed over 1600 surveys to capture the scope and scale of violence experienced by women and girls across 8 African countries. Included in these results are surveys of 246 girls under the age of sixteen. Of these, 45% reported experiencing physical violence, and 29% reported experiencing sexual violence — all before the age of 16. This cannot continue.

Informed decisions lead to healthier futures. With the support of Merck and Creating Healthier Communities (CHC) through the Vaccine Equity Initiative, ACESWorld developed the HPV Learn and Decide app, a free, accessible tool designed to answer the questions adults have about HPV vaccination.