Key Resources
Important article highlighting the reality of how stigma around menstruation and lack of access to adequate hygiene materials and facilities harms girls.
Journal article on the need to design female-friendly toilets that support girls' and women's safety, hygiene and dignity.
This report captures promising gender transformative work taking place in politically and culturally conservative contexts, including programmes led by grassroots organisations. The findings are meant to be used: 1) as a learning tool for programme implementers, 2) to present gaps and opportunities for future research, and 3) as a tool for advocates to open dialogue with leaders and policymakers about how programming designed to address CEFMU (Child, Early, and Forced Marriage and Unions) can advance girls’ and women’s greater sexual agency, bodily autonomy, freedom and dignity.
Comprehensive sexuality education is an essential part of a good quality education that helps prepare young people for a fulfilling life in a changing world. It improves sexual and reproductive health outcomes, promotes safe and gender equitable learning environments, and improves education access and achievement. This paper discusses how governments can overcome social resistance and operational constraints to scale up these programmes as part of their commitment to SDG 4, the global education goal.
A great primer on menstrual health and the correlation to school access and success for girls.
The findings from a multi-year project in Zambia designed to "build the health, social and economic assets of vulnerable girls." This article is interesting in that it highlights why the program did not work as intended, and stresses the need for programs to "address underlying economic and social constraints" girls face.
Foundational, well-done curriculum on comprehensive sexuality education. Available in English, French, Spanish, Chinese, Bangla, Arabic, and Portuguese.
A compelling study around the need to include content on gender and power in comprehensive sexuality education. The programs that addressed gender or power were five times as likely to be effective as those that did not; fully 80% of them were associated with a significantly lower rate of STIs or unintended pregnancy. In contrast, among the programs that did not address gender or power, only 17% had such an association. Available in English, Spanish and French.
A helpful guide for starting projects related to early and child marriage.
A rigorous review of sexuality education programs and the characteristics of effective ones. Highly useful for anyone interested in working with families and communities, and for those facing backlash due to stigma around sexuality.
A curriculum for supporting adolescent girls living with HIV in Zambia.
This document provides guidance for staff from UNICEF Supply Division and Programme Division (WASH, Education, and Protection sections) on the selection and acquisition of
appropriate materials and supplies for menstrual hygiene management, particularly during humanitarian responses.
This guidance was developed for UNICEF WASH, Education, Health, and Gender specialists or focal points in country offices who are working with their partners to develop programmes related to menstrual health and hygiene (MHH). However, this guidance may also be useful for others who are working to advance menstrual health and hygiene at a national and sub-national level.
A report on the state of legal and societal frameworks that keep girls out of school during and after pregnancy.
A helpful overview of adolescence, including global standards for determining the age of adolescence, as well as expectations and common experiences held by adolescent girls.
A short article highlighting the need to increase girls' access to gender-sensitive sanitation.
Article previewing study results showing a negative association between giving birth before age 18 and a woman's economic empowerment.
Findings from a study in South Africa mapping and understanding men in relationships with adolescent girls.
A 23-item measure of relationship power dynamics.
A study on decision-making by pregnant adolescent girls in Ghana.
A magazine run by the organization TARSHI to explore issues of sexuality in the Global South.
A study showing that grade progression may have a positive impact on reducing the occurrence of sexually transmitted infections.
Key Resources
Important article highlighting the reality of how stigma around menstruation and lack of access to adequate hygiene materials and facilities harms girls.
Journal article on the need to design female-friendly toilets that support girls' and women's safety, hygiene and dignity.
This report captures promising gender transformative work taking place in politically and culturally conservative contexts, including programmes led by grassroots organisations. The findings are meant to be used: 1) as a learning tool for programme implementers, 2) to present gaps and opportunities for future research, and 3) as a tool for advocates to open dialogue with leaders and policymakers about how programming designed to address CEFMU (Child, Early, and Forced Marriage and Unions) can advance girls’ and women’s greater sexual agency, bodily autonomy, freedom and dignity.
Comprehensive sexuality education is an essential part of a good quality education that helps prepare young people for a fulfilling life in a changing world. It improves sexual and reproductive health outcomes, promotes safe and gender equitable learning environments, and improves education access and achievement. This paper discusses how governments can overcome social resistance and operational constraints to scale up these programmes as part of their commitment to SDG 4, the global education goal.
A great primer on menstrual health and the correlation to school access and success for girls.
The findings from a multi-year project in Zambia designed to "build the health, social and economic assets of vulnerable girls." This article is interesting in that it highlights why the program did not work as intended, and stresses the need for programs to "address underlying economic and social constraints" girls face.
Foundational, well-done curriculum on comprehensive sexuality education. Available in English, French, Spanish, Chinese, Bangla, Arabic, and Portuguese.
A compelling study around the need to include content on gender and power in comprehensive sexuality education. The programs that addressed gender or power were five times as likely to be effective as those that did not; fully 80% of them were associated with a significantly lower rate of STIs or unintended pregnancy. In contrast, among the programs that did not address gender or power, only 17% had such an association. Available in English, Spanish and French.
A helpful guide for starting projects related to early and child marriage.
A rigorous review of sexuality education programs and the characteristics of effective ones. Highly useful for anyone interested in working with families and communities, and for those facing backlash due to stigma around sexuality.