"Adolescents, especially girls, often pay a heavy toll when they start having sex without knowing how to deal with it in a positive way," says 16-year-old Nadia from the Republic of Moldova.

Adotoyo, 22, from Togo, says young people link the lack of education to their plight. He says, "We have no hesitation in singling out the lack of sex education as the most influential factor in teen pregnancy."

Bradley, 16, from Western Samoa, equates risk with ignorance. "Everything we learn is taught to us, and we learn to be responsible about sex only by being taught. A child who knows nothing of the consequences of unprotected sex is most at risk," he says.

But the antidote to ignorance–information and education–is often denied to adolescents. The number of adolescents without reproductive health information of any kind is estimated at over 100 million. "

The misconception is that sex education teaches people how to have sex, whereas it actually teaches young people about the development of their body, reproductive health, sexually transmitted diseases and contraceptives," Nadia explains.

In other words, sexuality education (also called family life education or population education) is designed to help young people understand sexual changes as positive and natural aspects of their development, and not to encourage behaviour contrary to moral values.

Gabriel, 16, wants adults to understand that sex education is something teens need and want. "Believe me, the more accurate and proper information young men and young women get about physiology, the dangers associated with early sexual contacts, pregnancy, venereal diseases, the more responsibly they will behave towards themselves and their partners."

Adults need to learn about sexuality as much as young people do, says a 22-year-old from Cameroon: "I think the people who need to be educated are parents and teachers. To talk to your kids about sex doesn't mean that you are encouraging them to have sex. Instead it helps them sieve through the information they get from friends, allowing them to decide what is wrong and what is right," he says.

Information is Protection

For young people, information is protection.

I really wish I had the proper education about sex and all beforehand," says a young man from the United States. "I am carrying the HIV virus. I feel that the word has to get around that we all have to be extra careful now that this disease is spreading."

Education programmes could go a long way to improve the situation. But some teachers are uncomfortable with subjects related to sexuality, some traditionalists and religious groups are vocally opposed, and school administrators fear the criticism of parents. The hope is that such obstacles to knowledge will lessen as the benefits of dispelling myths and misinformation are better understood.

Access to information and to education are rights that belong to young people as much as adults. Extra efforts must be made to reach young people who are not part of the formal education system. Many young people working to support themselves and their families may be in even greater need of information, education and reproductive health services than those attending school.

Young people, whether or not they are in school or out of school, deserve a chance to learn the basics.

Elmira, 17, of Kazakhstan says, "The most important thing that a teenager must realize and say to himself or herself every day, particularly those teen-agers engaging in sexual activity, is ‘I am worth too much to throw away what I have to offer.’"

Ignorance leaves children vulnerable. No one wants that. People from all societies share common goals about the health, well-being, happiness and full development of their children. Adults who want to act on behalf of their children’s rights will find ways to convey life- saving information. Different education efforts will take different approaches. All will be trying to reach young people who are facing situations their parents and grandparents never had to face. Just ask them.

Sexual Health Education Leads to Safer Sexual Behaviour

Sexual health education for children and young people promotes safe sexual practices and does not increase their sexual activity. That finding, in a review commissioned by UNAIDS (the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS) and reported in October 1997, was based on the analysis of 68 research reports on sexual health education from diverse countries. The main conclusions were:

• Education about sexual health and/or HIV does not encourage increased sexual activity. This was affirmed by 65 out of 68 studies; the other three were regarded as having severe methodological limitations;
  
  
• Good quality programmes help delay first intercourse and protect sexually-active youth from HIV. Sexual health education either delayed the onset of sexual activity, reduced the number of sexual partners or reduced unplanned pregnancy and STD rates;
  
  
• Responsible and safe behaviour can be learned;
  
  
• Sexual health education is best started before the onset of sexual activity. The review, summarizing a large body of evidence, concluded that effective education programmes share certain features. They work from a focussed curricula, give clear statements about behavioural aims and clearly delineate the risks of unprotected sex and methods to avoid it. They use learning activities to address social influences and media influences and to enhance communication and negotiation skills. Effective education programmes also encourage openness in communicating about sex.