A Voice for Girls’ Rights: the ActionAid and TV Sorrisi e Canzoni Auction

Once again this year, thanks to the partnership between ActionAid and TV Sorrisi e Canzoni, Sanremo becomes an occasion for solidarity. The artists competing in the festival will have the opportunity to donate a signed personal item, which will then be auctioned to support girls’ rights around the world.

The proceeds will fund ActionAid’s projects aimed at combating child marriage and female genital mutilation—practices that are still widespread today and affect millions of girls worldwide, depriving them of their fundamental rights.

Specifically, the initiative will support the expansion of an anti-violence center in Kapchorwa, in eastern Uganda. Across the country, 34% of girls are married before the age of 18, with even higher rates in rural areas, and 51% of the female population experiences violence or sexual abuse. The center will provide a safe space for girls aged 10 to 19, offering shelter, psychological and legal support, as well as mentoring programs and vocational education pathways.

Taking action to eliminate these practices means providing immediate protection while also laying the groundwork for lasting change—fostering independence and helping to break the cycle of violence.

ActionAid is an independent international organization that works to protect fundamental rights and operates in more than 71 countries. In Italy, it has been active since 1989, supported by over 135,000 donors, 120,000 of whom are regular contributors.