Also, because most youth reproductive health programs are geared toward young people engaging in consensual sex, the different and urgent needs of those who have been sexually abused are not met. 18 Women are more vulnerable than men to violence and abuse at all stages of life through infanticide, incest, child prostitution, sex trafficking, rape, partner violence, psychological abuse, sexual harassment, rape as a weapon of war, and harmful traditional practices such as forced early marriage, female genital cutting, and bride burning. While boys are also victimized, girls are more likely to be subjected to sexual abuse and are at risk of becoming infected with HIV and other STIs at a much younger age than boys. Other risks include unintended pregnancies, physical injury, and psychological trauma. Studies also show that young people who have been victims of sexual abuse are more likely to engage in high-risk sexual behavior than those who have not been abused.
Some young people become prostitutes in order to make money.
In many places, such as Bangladesh, Brazil, Nepal, the Philippines, and Thailand, young people are lured or forced into prostitution. Some 600 girls are at risk every day. FGC is a serious health issue, with effects including hemorrhage, shock, pain, and various infections and other complications that can significantly damage a girl's health over her lifetime. Because FGC violates a woman's right to good health and bodily integrity, it is also a human rights issue. FGC occurs primarily in Africa, but is also practiced by minority groups and African immigrants in other regions.