This came from senior representatives such as Dr Nafis Sadik, currently Special Adviser to the United Nations Secretary General who asked in her opening plenary speech, “Why are so many adolescents denied sexuality education, especially girls, when such a huge proportion of our populations is under 20?” She further emphasized, “sexuality education in adolescents is the foundation of healthy sexuality in adult life. Yet only one-third of adolescents worldwide know how to prevent HIV and millions in the region go into marriage without even the basic knowledge about sexuality and reproduction. Young people have the right to know about their own bodies and their futures.”
The theme of the 7th APCRSHR was “Examining achievements: good practices and challenges: towards a strategic positioning of SRHR for all”. Attended by over 1,000 policymakers, programme managers, private sector, and development partners supporting SRHR efforts in the region, the conference had a strong youth presence and youth voice.
During the Youth Forum on 22 January, youth representatives called on governments and international partners to expand and scale up access to CSE. Justine Sass, Chief of the HIV Prevention and Health Promotion Unit at UNESCO Bangkok, and plenary speaker at the youth forum emphasized that “comprehensive sexuality education equips children and young people with the knowledge, skills and values to enable them to make safe and healthy choices about their relationships. It promotes social norms and values such as respect, tolerance, love and positive communication.”
Youth participants asked about guidance to better orient governments to effective CSE, and reference was made to the International Technical Guidance on Sexuality Education (ITGSE). Published by UNESCO in 2009, it draws together the evidence and provides guidance on a “minimum package” for CSE. Said Ms Sass, “the evidence is clear. Studies show that CSE can impact on risky-sexual behaviour, improve condom and contraceptive use; and prevent unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. Moreover there is more recent research that suggests that CSE programmes that have the greatest impact on adolescent pregnancy and STIs are those that emphasize critical thinking about gender and power in relationships.”
The ITGSE was also mentioned by Dr Gita Sen, who has worked for over 35 years in India and internationally on population policies, reproductive and sexual health, gender equality and women’s human rights, and whose work has helped to shape the global paradigm shift on population and development. In her plenary speech she indicated the need for more reviews on the implementation of CSE, suggesting that we need to move away from “evaluations of impact which is technically challenging and costly. It would be far more useful to track the proportion of adolescents who have access to CSE; to monitor the quality of content and delivery; and to assess the extent to which curriculum address the guidance by UNESCO that already exists.”
There was a wide diversity of speakers that shared programme examples, from Fiji to Nepal, Pakistan to Viet Nam, China to India. Many emphasized that CSE is indeed possible and required in all settings, including those where cultural or religious values and norms may make its implementation more challenging. “We are promoting sexuality education to empower people to take their own decisions,” said Saad Haroon, Programme Manager at WPFRutgers in Pakistan.
At the end of the conference the “Manila Challenge” was presented. The Challenge is a statement issued by APCRSHR participants.
It challenges governments to, among other things,
-acknowledge “the centrality of SRHR to sustainable development, ensuring that it becomes a national priority”
-“institutionalise and provide comprehensive sexuality education and youth-friendly services regardless of marital status, as well as respect young people who are discovering their own identities and making SRHR choices”
-and meaningfully involve “sexual minorities, young people, people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups in the development and implementation of SRHR legislation and programmes.”
It challenges young people to “advocate and promote SRHR among their peers, to respect sexual preference and diversity, and to foster informed and safe sexual choices.”
It challenges development partners to “provide resources for SRHR in the region, support the sustainability of civil society organisations, contribute to the empowerment of SRHR advocates, ensure participation and leadership of civil society in global post-2015 discussions, and strengthen synergy and networking among SRHR advocates” and in particular the United Nations System to “to ensure that an “SRHR for All” agenda is captured in the post-2015 development framework.”
Looking forward it is clear that there is a lot more work to do to expand opportunities to CSE in the Asia-Pacific. The APCRSHR demonstrated, though, that there is a strong force of youth, governments, development partners, and civil society to lead this charge and this challenge to enable better sexual and reproductive health for young people.