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It has almost become the norm in Mumbai`s public hospitals that the patients going in for surgery are made to undergo an HIV test. But few know that this is a violation of guidelines laid down by the National Aids Control Organisation.

Societies all over the world struggle - both legally and morally - to define the age that young people can legally consent to sex. It is an issue complicated by religion, politics and culture. In Asia, the laws defining ages of consent for both genders are varied and complex.

Christy and Rukmini of Chennai were lovers for 10 years. Their poignant end, according to activists, brings the number of reported lesbian suicides in Tamil Nadu up to eight in the past five months. This comes in the backdrop of Delhi High Court hearing a petition seeking the repeal of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, which criminalises sexual activity by same-sex partners.

For sex workers, fighting social stigma and discrimination is a big challenge. Unlike in the olden days where society accepted them as part of the social structure and gave them a respected place, sex workers today are harassed and looked down upon, and more often exploited.

Twenty-nine out of every 1,000 women were sexually assaulted last year, the Ministry of Gender Equality said Friday. The figure is more than 100 times bigger than previous official reports because in the past 99.7 percent of victims had declined to report incidents to the police.