Key facts

• Youth violence is a global public health problem. It includes a range of acts from bullying and physical fighting, to more severe sexual and physical assault to homicide.
• Worldwide some 200 000 homicides occur among youth 10–29 years of age each year, which is 42% of the total number of homicides globally each year.
• Homicide is the fourth leading cause of death in people aged 10-29 years, and 84% of these homicides involve male victims.
• For each young person killed, many more sustain injuries requiring hospital treatment.
• In one study, from 3–24% of women report that their first sexual experience was forced.
• When it is not fatal, youth violence has a serious, often lifelong, impact on a person's physical, psychological and social functioning.