12 July 2018 (Colombo, Sri Lanka): To commemorate
World Population Day 2018, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) together
with the Parliamentary Sectoral Oversight Committee on Women and Gender, and
the Ministry of Education, hosted UNFPA’s 5th Generation-to-Generation
dialogue (G2G) on the need for Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) in Sri
Lanka.
Sri Lanka has a
youth population of over 4.4 million between the ages of 15-29 years. However,
the National Youth Health Survey (2013) identified that 50% of young people had
limited knowledge about sexual and reproductive health. According to the Family
Health Bureau (2015), while teenage pregnancy in Sri Lanka was relatively low
at 5.2%, sub-national disparities exist with a rate of 8-9% in some localities.
Further, the Stigma Assessment of People Living with HIV (2017) indicates that
the HIV prevalence in Sri Lanka is 0.01%, yet new infections are seemingly increasing,
especially among young people. The recent communal violence, particularly in
relation to the Ampara incident, which stemmed from inaccurate information
relating to reproductive health, further highlights the need for CSE in Sri
Lanka.
Recognizing this
need, the Generation-to-Generation dialogue facilitated a discussion on how
different stakeholders, with a special emphasis on policymakers and young
people can come together to address gaps in comprehensive sexuality education
in Sri Lanka, through targeted initiatives and inclusive policies.
Hon. (Dr.)
Sudharshini Fernandopulle, Deputy Chair of the Parliamentary Sectoral Oversight
Committee on Women and Gender, delivered the Keynote address. Speaking at the
event, Hon. (Dr.) Fernandopulle stated: “Traditional values and culture have
restricted young people in Sri Lanka from receiving comprehensive sexuality
education. Global research shows that comprehensive sexuality education
improves the overall health and well-being of youth”.
Ms.
Ritsu Nacken, Representative of UNFPA in Sri Lanka further stated, “Comprehensive sexuality education goes
beyond simply providing information on sexual and reproductive health, and
equips young people with critical life skills and understanding of fundamental
values such as human rights and gender equality. It is often misunderstood that
CSE makes young people more promiscuous, but it is proven that CSE does not
facilitate an early onset of sexual activities. CSE can help young people
develop self-esteem and life skills that encourage critical thinking, clear
communication, responsible decision-making and respectful behavior. As parents
and educators, it is our responsibility to provide young people with accurate
and age-appropriate information, so that they can make informed decisions about
their body and life.”
The dialogue was based on the
International Technical Guidance on Sexuality Education, which is the global
guidelines for CSE, launched earlier this year - led
by UNESCO, along with UNAIDS, UNFPA, UNICEF, UNWOMEN, and WHO. Delivering a
presentation on the guidelines, Ms. Sarita Jadav, National Programme Officer from UNESCO, New Delhi highlighted: “Comprehensive sexuality education includes evidence informed age-appropriate
education. It includes information all adolescents and young people need to
know”.
The dialogue was moderated
by Dakshitha Wickremarathna, Director, Youth Advocacy Network, and the panel comprised
of; Ms. Renuka Peiris, Director of Education at the Ministry of Education; Dr.
Ayesha Lokubalasuriya, Consultant Community Physician, Adolescent and School
Health Unit at the Family Health Bureau, Ms. Sarita Jadav, National Programme
Officer at UNESCO, New Delhi; Benislos Thushan, Programme Officer at Office for
National Unity and Reconciliation, and Aisha Nazim, Journalist at Roar Media.
Generation-to-Generation
(G2G) dialogues are UNFPA’s flagship events in Sri Lanka. G2Gs are
inter-generational dialogues that provide an open platform for the three
generations to come together to share their ideas on socio-economic issues.
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