Combating gender based violence and strengthening psychosocial and reproductive health care for adolescent girls in Senegal

Violence against children and adolescents is becoming more and more important in Senegal, in its magnitude and frequency, with multiple consequences on their physical, reproductive, and mental health. Several studies have highlighted the inadequacy of the solutions applied in terms of their content, form, targets, and places of intervention. Indeed, the solutions recommended and applied do not adequately integrate the consequences of this violence on the sexual and reproductive health of adolescent girls. While sexual and reproductive health constitutes an essential pillar in the building of a future woman who will become an adolescent and who will be able to play her reproductive as well as productive roles in society.

Under the direction of the Institute of Health and Development of the Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar and in collaboration with the Child Guidance Center, this project seeks to develop an integrated and participatory model focused on the prevention of violence based on gender and its implications for sexual, reproductive, and mental health while strengthening the empowerment of adolescent girls. This model will be structured around the following strategies: 1) preventing gender-based violence against adolescent girls based on existing community mechanisms and arrangements; 2) training and sensitization of key actors in the fight for the protection of the rights of adolescent girls, and 3) networking of the various actors involved in promoting the well-being of adolescent girls. Through a strategy of dissemination and continuous engagement with the expected key users, the project should contribute to strengthening mechanisms for holistic management of the impact of gender-based violence on the sexual and reproductive health of adolescent girls in Senegal.

This study is part of the cohort of five research projects supported by the Program “Improving the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights of Adolescent Girls in Senegal - ADOS” funded by IDRC and Global Affairs Canada. Its implementation will help strengthen national strategies for adolescents/young people, particularly the National Strategy for Adolescent/Youth Health in Senegal and the Strategic Plan for Sexual and Reproductive Health of Adolescents/Youth in Senegal.