Campaign in Mozambique Aims to Increase Awareness About Sexual Abuse of Girls, Prevent Spread of HIV

A campaign financed by ActionAid International called "No to Sexual Abuse of Girls in Education" has led to a network of clubs for girls in schools and communities in the Manica province of Mozambique, IRIN/PlusNews reports. The campaign's goal is to reduce sexual abuse of girls, and since 2006, 30 clubs in the province have been established that work with neighborhood watch groups to report cases of abuse to authorities. The groups also publicize laws regarding sexual abuse. According to IRIN/PlusNews, there were four cases of sexual abuse of girls reported in 2008 in the province, down from 15 cases reported in 2007. IRIN/PlusNews also profiled one of the four cases, which involved a seven-year-old girl who was raped and later tested positive for HIV (IRIN/PlusNews, 2/25).

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