Can youth empowerment programs reduce violence against girls during the COVID-19 pandemic?

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Gulesci, Selim; Puente-Beccar, Manuela; Ubfal, Diego
• 署名单位: Trinity College Dublin; Bocconi University; The World Bank
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0304-3878
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jdeveco.2021.102716
• 发表日期: 2021
• 关键词: Youth empowerment; Violence against girls; List experiment

摘要

This paper shows that a youth empowerment program in Bolivia reduced the reported prevalence of violence against girls during the COVID-19 lockdown. The program offered training in soft skills and technical skills, sexual education, mentoring and job-finding assistance. To measure the effects of the program, the study conducted a randomized control trial with 600 vulnerable adolescents. Results indicate that 7 months after its completion, the program increased girls' earnings and decreased violence against girls. Violence was measured with both direct self-report questions and list experiments. These findings suggest that multi-faceted empowerment programs can reduce the level of violence experienced by young women during high-risk periods.