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Adolescent girls have long been at the forefront of change, proving that age is no barrier to impact. From Malala Yousafzai risking her life to advocate for girls’ education to Greta Thunberg mobilizing a global movement for climate action and Brittany Wenger developing a breakthrough artificial intelligence system for cancer detection, the contributions of adolescent girls emphasize their immense potential to drive innovation, social progress and positive change when given the right opportunities and support.
Empowering adolescent girls through education, health and economic opportunities not only improves their lives but also strengthens families, economies and societies. Prioritizing their well-being leads to better life outcomes and opens pathways to improved financial independence, economic breakthroughs and a more fulfilling life.
Across the Arab world, adolescent girls stand at the crossroads of opportunity and systemic barriers. With more than 45 million girls between the ages of 10 and 19 in the Middle East and North Africa region, the question remains: how can governments harness this demographic segment to unlock opportunities through policies, programs and legislation?
Adolescent girls in the MENA region face significant barriers in education, employment, healthcare and legal rights. A recent UNICEF report revealed that 24 percent of girls in the region aged 15 to 19 are not in education, employment or training — double the rate of boys. Additionally, many MENA countries provide limited access to essential digital and science, technology, engineering and math skills, reducing girls’ opportunities in high-paying, future-oriented industries.
Across the Arab world, adolescent girls stand at the crossroads of opportunity and systemic barriers.
Sara Al-Mulla
The barriers to entering the labor market persist even after education. The same report showed that, in 2023, more than one in three young women aged 15 to 24 in the region were unemployed, compared to just over one in five young men. Many young women face unstable, informal jobs with lower wages, limited career growth and no social protection, leaving them more susceptible to falling into poverty. Discriminatory workplace practices, a lack of childcare support and restrictive working conditions further hinder their economic participation.
Adolescent girls also face various health challenges. The UNICEF report revealed that a 15-year-old girl in a low-income country is today expected to live for 12 years fewer than her peers in high-income countries (72.3 versus 84.5 years). Moreover, in the MENA region, 5 percent of adolescent girls are underweight, 9 percent lack access to basic sanitation and many struggle with food insecurity due to poverty. Ongoing regional conflicts have exacerbated all these aspects, in addition to subjecting adolescent girls to severe occurrences of violence. Furthermore, legal frameworks in some MENA countries regarding marriage, family, public life, employment and violence prevention require reform.
Across the Arab region, various initiatives and reforms aim to protect and empower adolescent girls and work toward gender parity in many domains. For instance, Saudi Arabia’s Childhood Committee, under the Family Affairs Council, oversees child welfare policies for those up to age 18. Comprising elite experts, it reviews laws and programs supporting children’s growth and protection, publishing guidelines on school safety, digital well-being and the development of life skills.
However, to ensure adolescent girls can fully participate in society, MENA governments must implement targeted and multifaceted interventions that enhance every aspect of an adolescent girl’s life. These should primarily focus on improving outcomes pertaining to education, economic opportunities, healthcare and legal protections.
Governments could also partner with nongovernmental organizations, research centers and international organizations focused on adolescent girls to design and implement targeted policies, programs and regulatory reforms. These partnerships can help leverage expertise, resources and data to understand and address the needs of adolescent girls in the MENA region, in addition to deploying capacity-building workshops and awareness programs for local stakeholders.
Education and skills development are catalysts for driving unprecedented economic growth and positive social progress. Adolescent girls must have universal access to education at all stages, as exemplified by the UAE’s Federal Law No. 39 of 2022, which ensures compulsory education from primary school to the end of secondary school.
Solutions should also involve financial support, such as scholarships or stipends, to encourage families to keep girls enrolled in school, as well as transportation and safe school facilities in rural areas. Critically, governments should implement policies that improve the physical safety of schools, especially in conflict-affected areas. This includes providing psychological support for girls who have experienced trauma, gender-based violence or abuse.
Curricula should be engaging and designed in such a way as to empower adolescent girls, featuring female role models, particularly in STEM subjects, and lessons on life skills, financial literacy, leadership and career guidance. Additionally, integrating vocational training opportunities in strategic areas — such as STEM, entrepreneurship and the creative industries — can equip them with employable skills.
Governments must implement targeted and multifaceted interventions that enhance every aspect of an adolescent girl’s life.
Sara Al-Mulla
It is also advantageous to introduce mentorship and internship programs that connect adolescent girls with industry professionals, offering real-world work experience and career guidance. Additionally, policies that promote gender equality in the workplace, such as ensuring equal pay, work-life balance, flexible working schemes and access to financial resources for young female entrepreneurs, are essential for increasing workforce participation rates and fostering long-term economic independence.
Governments must also focus on enhancing adolescent girls’ health by ensuring access to affordable, youth-friendly healthcare services, particularly in rural and underserved areas. Mental health support, including counseling and psychosocial services, is essential to help girls navigate this crucial stage. Additionally, awareness programs should equip girls with knowledge on education, economic opportunities, healthcare and protection from violence or abuse.
At the same time, regulatory reforms for adolescent girls should focus on strengthening legal frameworks that protect their essential rights and prioritize the removal of discriminatory practices, thereby ensuring equal access to opportunities, health services and legal protections.
With the right resources and opportunities, the Arab world’s adolescent girls can become a powerful generation of leaders, innovators and changemakers, driving progress in their communities and shaping the future of the region.
- Sara Al-Mulla is an Emirati civil servant with an interest in human development policy and children’s literature. She can be contacted at www.amorelicious.com.