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One in three women will be a victim of violence – being raped, beaten or abused in her lifetime. Sophie, 17, is from Cape Town in South Africa where it is more likely for a girl to be raped than go to secondary school. She experienced violence in her own home.

“My father used to abuse my mother and I used to just sit in my room and cry. It used to make me feel so sad. He would beat her for no reason at all and there was no one stepping in to help my mother.”

“I think violence is happening to a lot of girls and boys because it’s not taken seriously,” says Gillian. “Girls do not speak up when they have been violated because they are scared to speak up about it. Even if you report violence, most of time it’s just seen as a thing that happens, it’s a joke.”

Background

In March 2013 the United Nation's Commission on the Status of Women will meet to discuss how to prevent all forms of violence against women and girls.

This International Women's Day, help demand action by sending a message to global leaders that it's time to put a stop to this worldwide injustice.

UK aid is working in 21 countries to address physical and sexual violence against women and girls and will be supporting 10 million women and girls with improved access to security and justice services by 2015.

Find out more at www.dfid.gov.uk/violence-against-women-and-girls