One in five UK girls experience sexual or physical harassment before they turn 12, study finds

A new study by Plan International UK reveals alarming rates of harassment among girls in the UK. One in five girls experience sexual or physical harassment for the first time before turning 12, while 87% report being catcalled or receiving unwanted remarks about their appearance. The findings, part of the charity’s *The Fine Print* campaign, expose deep-rooted inequalities and societal expectations, including 'unwritten rules' forcing girls to be polite (54%), more mature than boys (52%), or accept harassment as normal (46%). Ealaf, a 17-year-old member of Plan International’s Youth Advisory Panel, shared her experience: 'I was first followed by a boy at age 10, and I can’t remember a time without unwanted appearance comments.' The study also found 64% of parents worried about raising daughters amid concerns over safety, equality, and the broader environment. Over half (56%) of young women aged 16-24 believe gender equality will never be achieved in their lifetime. Rose Caldwell, CEO of Plan International UK, criticized the normalization of harassment, noting it begins as early as primary school and shapes girls’ behavior. While recent progress includes the criminalization of public sexual harassment, Caldwell warned online harm remains a critical gap, especially amid political uncertainty. A separate Barnardo’s report found one in five UK girls receive unwanted images online, with 25% called degrading names and 14% of 13-15-year-olds asked for nude images. The UK government pledged £1 billion over three years to combat violence against women and girls, treating it as a 'national emergency.' The Home Office was contacted for comment but did not respond in time for publication.