Gender Vulnerabilities of boys and girls throughout the lifespan in Lao PDR

Adolescent girls in early years (aged 0-9) face

• Socialization to be differential to boys/men
• Sexual exploitation and abuse 
• Differential access to food and medical care
• Low access to shooling

While adolescent boys in early years (aged 0-9) experience 

• Harsher and abusive punishment at home and school
• Poor access to medical care (based on relief that boys are hardier or tougher than girls, in some settings
• Sexual exploitaiton and abuse (at lesser rates than girls)