Gender refers to the economic, social and cultural attributes and opportunities associated with being male or female in a particular social setting at a particular point in time.
Sex refers to biological and physiological attributes that identify a person as male or female.
Gender-based violence (GBV) is any form of deliberate physical, psychological or sexual harm, or threat of harm, directed against a person on the basis of their gender.

Types of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence

Sexual Violence. Sexual abuse includes all forms of sexual coercion (emotional, physical, and economic) against an individual. It may or may not include rape. Any type of unwanted sexual contact is considered to be sexual abuse. Sexual abuse is often not recognised as a reproductive health issue. In some cultures, the subject of sexual abuse is often not discussed.

However, as providers and counsellors, it is important to recognise this problem as a reproductive health issue. If sexual abuse is not dealt with in a professional, nonjudgmental manner, it can lead to further sexual and reproductive health problems. Providers and counsellors should possess good counselling skills and adequate knowledge of sexual abuse in order to help adolescents and youth. Perpetrators may be a parent, partner, ex-partner or boyfriend.

• Rape is the invasion of any part of the body of the victim with a sexual organ, or of the anal or genital opening of the victim with any object or any other part of the body by force.
  
• Acquaintance rape when the person who is attacked knows the attacker.
  
• Marital rape when one spouse forces the other to have sexual intercourse.
  
• Stranger rape when the person who is attacked does not know the attacker.
  
• Gang rape when two or more people sexually assault another person.
  
• Incest when his/her own family member sexually abuses a person
  

Sexual harassment is unwelcome sexual requests for sexual favours, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature that tends to create an unfriendly or offensive environment which causes harm to the victim.

Physical violence may include beating, punching, kicking, biting, burning, disfigurement or killing, with or without weapons; often in combinations with other forms of sexual and gender-based violence.

Emotional and psychological violence. Non-sexual verbal abuse that is insulting, degrading, forcing the victim/survivor to engage in humiliating acts, whether in public or private.