In the hierarchy of gender – based power relations,
adolescent females occupy the lowest rung. Their opportunities for self –
development and autonomy are limited due to societies denying them access to
education, health care and gainful employment. On top of this, many are
confronted with sexual coercion and abuse, often starting at a very young age.
Adolescent girls are relatively powerless when dealing with
older partners, increasing their risk of infections from STDS and/or AIDS. Many
older men deliberately seek out young girls in the mistaken belief that their
chances of AIDS infection will be reduced. This behavior is reflected in the
faster – rising rate of infection among girls than boys.
Even when it comes to child marriages, child brides faces
greater health risks and experience real physical violation and trauma as her
young body is forced to deal with early sexual activity and the strains and
pains of pregnancy and child birth.
Many teenagers are unable to
negotiate for protected sex. Further compounding their vulnerable position is
their lack of knowledge of contraceptive methods and lack of access to
reproductive health information and services available.
This incident
was reported very recently.
(On 24th
August 2009)
A 15 years old
girl was taken by force by a group of men, to a studio where her nude photos
were taken. Then they have sexually abused the girl and later on she was
admitted to a nearby hospital.
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