Improving Adolescent and Young Adult Health Through Knowledge and Action on Gender-Based Violence.

Gender-based violence (GBV) refers to a specific form of interpersonal violence that is rooted in gender inequities and unequal distribution of power. GBV is defined as any type of violence, including physical, sexual, psychological, and economic, perpetrated against individual(s) based on actual or perceived gender, gender identity, gender expression, sex or sex characteristics, sexual orientation, or divergence from social norms on masculinity and femininity. Cisgender (cis) and transgender (trans) women and girls of all ages, including adolescents and young adults (AYAs) of ages 10-24 years, disproportionately experience GBV. The Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine recognizes that GBV has been a long-standing threat, remains a public health crisis, and requires an urgent response to support the health and well-being of AYAs, especially cis and trans women and girls, worldwide. The Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine adopts the following positions: (1) GBV is a pervasive and harmful global health issue rooted in gender inequity; (2) An intersectionality framework that recognizes multiple layers of oppression should guide researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to address GBV among populations that are disproportionately affected; (3) Accurate and accessible data collection systems about GBV among AYAs should be established; (4) All AYA health service providers should be trained to deliver developmentally appropriate, healing-centered, culturally responsive, and evidence-informed GBV prevention and treatment strategies; (5) All AYAs should have equal access to developmentally appropriate education that disrupts gender inequality, a root cause of GBV; and (6) Governments should sign, ratify, adequately fund, and implement frameworks and policies to prevent and respond to GBV.