A/HRC/35/11 and gender-sensitive remedy. 53 Measures should be designed and monitored with the participation of girls and boys and could include the adoption of safeguards and specific policies, and accessible and safe monitoring and reporting mechanisms. 54 The development of a holistic understanding of the root causes and consequences of school-related genderbased violence against girls, including through systematic research and improved data collection, is also critically needed.55 K. Harmful practices 44. Harmful practices are “persistent practices and forms of behaviour that are grounded in discrimination on the basis of, among other things, sex, gender and age, in addition to multiple and/or intersecting forms of discrimination that often involve violence and cause physical and/or psychological harm or suffering”.56 Their occurrence is often justified on religious or sociocultural grounds; as a form of payment, “protection” or financial security; and as a rite of passage to adulthood.57 Disproportionately affecting girls, in particular in rural contexts, such practices particularly impact girls’ access to education. Child marriage has contributed to girls being forcibly excluded from school and to higher school dropout rates, as they are expected to assume their responsibilities as wives and as child bearers.58 45. Efforts should be made to counter cultural and social acceptance of such practices, by raising awareness of their harmful effects on girls and the costs to the wider society, including through outreach and support programmes, the media and awareness-raising campaigns, conducted in collaboration with older women and girls, religious and community leaders, civil society, and men and boys. 59 Economic incentives to girls who delay marriage until they complete their education have also proven to be successful in combating child marriage. 60 46. Under international human rights law, States should take all effective and appropriate measures to abolish traditional practices prejudicial to the health of children, and modify or abolish existing laws, regulations, customs and practices which constitute discrimination against women,61 including ensuring that girls are made aware of, and have the capacity to claim and exercise, their rights in relation to marriage, as well as ensuring that girls who run away from their families to avoid harmful practices are protected. 62 Teachers can also play a critical role in assisting victims or potential victims of harmful practices.63 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 10 Ibid. OHCHR, “Attacks against girls seeking access to education”, p. 26. Ibid., p. 27; A/HRC/17/26, para. 103; Submissions from UNICEF and National Youth Council of Ireland. Joint general recommendation No. 31 of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women/general comment No. 18 of the Committee on the Rights of the Child (2014), paras. 15-16. Ibid., paras. 6 and 62; Committee on the Rights of the Child, general comment No. 15 (2013) on the right of the child to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health, para. 9; Submission from World Young Women’s Christian Association. Joint general recommendation No. 31 of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women/general comment No. 18 of the Committee on the Rights of the Child (2014), para. 22. A/HRC/26/22, para. 54 (e). Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, general recommendation No. 34 (2016), para. 23. Ibid., para. 32; Convention on the Rights of the Child, art. 24 (3); Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, arts. 2 (f), 16 (1) (a)-(b). Joint general recommendation No. 31 of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women/general comment No. 18 of the Committee on the Rights of the Child (2014), paras. 23 and 54. Ibid., para. 68.