Protection

Every child has the right to grow up safe from violence, exploitation and harm. Yet for millions of girls and young people around the world, that right is violated every day — at home, in school, in their communities and increasingly online. We work to protect girls and young people from violence in all its forms, and to provide support to families, communities and systems that keep them safe.

In 2025 ...​

people reached with protection programming
1 M
survivors of GBV supported
1 K
child protection mechanisms strengthened
0 K

The challenges

Girls face distinct and serious risks throughout their lives — and those risks are shaped by more than just gender. Age, disability, ethnicity, and displacement all affect how vulnerable a girl is and what kind of support she can access. Too many girls experience violence at the hands of people they know and trust. Too many are forced into marriage before they are ready or subjected to harmful practices that damage their health and strip away their choices. And as climate change drives displacement and economic stress, the risks facing girls and women are growing.

What we do

Our protection work focuses on preventing violence before it happens and supporting survivors when it does. We work with families, communities, service providers and governments to challenge the harmful norms and attitudes that allow violence to persist — and to make sure that girls who have experienced violence can access the support and care they need.

This includes work to end child marriage and female genital mutilation, prevent gender-based violence and intimate partner violence, tackle human trafficking and keep children safe online as well as offline. We don’t treat protection as a separate program — it runs through everything we do. Safe schools, access to mental health support, economic independence, and the ability to participate in community life are all part of what it means for a girl to truly be protected.

Putting girls and young people at the center

Young people are not just the people we work to protect — they are also agents of change in their own communities. Through programs that engage young men and boys as allies, empower girls as advocates and build community-led solutions, we work to create environments where girls are not just safe today, but where safety becomes the norm for future generations. Because protecting girls means changing the world they grow up in — not just responding to the harm they experience.

How you can help

Give to Plan

Our global programs are made possible by donors who believe in building a world where we are all equal. Explore ways to join our mission as a donor.

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Work with us
We work with partners around the world, from local community groups to global organizations. If you share our belief that every girl deserves the chance to fulfill her potential — we’d love to hear from you.
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