Abstract:
COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on people's lives, networks, and institutions all over the world, affecting them on social, economic, and health levels. The paper examines Covid-19 pandemic's impact on adolescent girls and young women in particular. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a wide-ranging impact on adolescent girls and young women, affecting education, livelihoods, sexual and reproductive health, sexual- and gender-based violence, the burden of unpaid care, and early and forced marriage. These increased barriers to economic and social opportunities, as well as the resulting loss of human capital, have the potential to stymie progress toward equality.Despite the dire situation, there is room for adaptation and resilience. Adolescent girls' groups provide safe and supportive environments in which participants can lay the groundwork for future health, social, and economic success(Burzynska & Contreras, 2020). Findings from this paper indicate that: Lockdowns and social distancing were intended to reduce social interaction and mobility while these policies are important tools for combating COVID-19, they further restrict girls' already limited mobility, increasing their isolation and amplifying their vulnerabilities, such as the risk of domestic violence.The educational attainment of girls is a critical investment in their future earning power. Many communities' livelihoods have been ruined as a result of COVID-19 and the policy responses that have accompanied it. Disruptions to essential health services, early and forced marriage, transactional sex, and work that increases time spent with men all contribute to an increase in the risks of adolescent pregnancy and sexuality. Paper recommends mentors should play an important role in reconnecting with and supporting girls, and they are especially useful when they live in the same communities as the girls they serve. The availability of distance-learning resources during school closures varies, as does the ability of programs to support girls' learning during the pandemic. Government should work hand in hand with non-governmental organizations as well as private sector for welfare of girls and young women in society.
