Education is the first step to empowerment, but in many countries girls dropout after primary school. Photograph: Sam Phelps"There are two ways of addressing violence: prevention and response," writes Michele Moloney-Kitts, director of Together For Girls. "Prevention is much tougher because it involves changing deeply ingrained social norms"
But how are social norms formed and how are they changed? These are questions that preoccupy those who make and try to influence policy. Their answers also determine to a large extent what success can be had when confronting the myriad of issues that prevent adolescent girls from reaching their potential.
Despite the economic case (pdf) for educating girls, the evidence of increased health risks following child marriage, and the cries to connect the dots between the wellbeing of girls and society as a whole, transformation at community level is slow and often hard won. So is there any best practice on how to change cultural and social norms?
In a blog on how to empower girls by giving them access to technology, Linda Raftree writes: "To make it possible for girls to participate fully in their family and communities requires a shift in thinking: social behaviours and attitudes needs to be changed. Organisations should engage men and boys as allies in this process. When fathers and male peers are aware, engaged and supportive of girls' development and their rights, they play a very strong role in changing broader norms and perceptions."
"Female role models can also help change mentalities. Having a device or new technology in their possession can increase the status and strength of girls and women as role models and enable them to carry out different and important roles in the community."
But where does that leave the law? What comes first: legal or social reform? Writing about violence against women, Katherine Brickell suggests that legal reform is no silver bullet. Monjurul Kabir adds: "The ability of a state to respect the rights of its citizens is reflected by the cultures and norms of that society."
Of course, it would be flawed to debate these issues without asking just how much influence should external actors have in determining practices in cultures different to their own. How do you avoid being instantly dismissed as a neocolonialist? What questions should development workers ask themselves to ensure that they are seeking to stop damaging practices without being prescriptive about what should replace them.
The outcomes of the debate will clearly provide lessons for the wider development community, but on Thursday 8 August, we will bring together an expert panel to look at these issues through the lens of adolescent girls programming. Join us at 1pm BST to ask questions and share your experiences.
The live chat is not video or audio-enabled but will take place in the comments section (below). To join the panel or give your views ahead of the chat, email globaldevpros@guardian.co.uk. Follow our tweets on Thursday using the hashtag #globaldevlive
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