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Issues at a Glance Research Contradicts Misinformation andDistortions Comprehensive Sex Myths andFacts About traception moreconsistently.7 con- and/or use to people young helping in and partners sexual of number the and course already effective in reducing be the frequency of sexual inter- to have shown been have who programs these sex, those had For initiation. delay sexual to people young help can programs that these shown have programs comprehensive education of sexuality evaluations rigorous fact, In complement the role of parents by providing a a providing by parents of role the complement of and support to ministriesis teachers and schoolseducation, through governments (UNESCO), of role Organization “the Educational, Cultural Nations and United Scientific the to According cation inschools. edu- sexuality comprehensive of provision the support parents of majority whelming FACT in sexatanearlierage.3 engage to lead nor activity sexual increase not do contraception and both about that people demonstratedyoung teach that programs education sex have World Organization, the by literature, study comprehensive reviewed a peer including in studies Numerous initiation. pro- sexual delay people young help can grams education sexuality comprehensive FACT encourages youth to have sex. MYTH comprehensive sexuality education. about myths common more the is time to put the debate to rest and debunk some of propagated education, sexuality being comprehensive about misinformation much With education. abstinence-only of at- supporters by under tack come to continue programs such use, contraceptive and increase and partners, sexual of number and frequency reduce activity, sexual of onset the delay youth help to ability the demonstrating Despite sexual health. their reproductive and about decisions responsible make to and sexuality their about informed be to right programs the have people young that idea the education on based are sexuality Comprehensive rgas nemn prna/aiy au- thority. parental/family undermine programs MYTH utpe ol idct ta a over- an that indicate polls Multiple eerh lal dmntae that demonstrates clearly Research opeesv sxaiy education sexuality Comprehensive opeesv sxaiy education sexuality Comprehensive 10 3-9 11-16 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 8 , 9 1,2

skills astheymature. and planned are and sequential to build young people’s knowledge and grade by vary covered ics Top- developmentally-appropriate. and age- be designed to is education sexuality Comprehensive become do they sexually active. when themselves tect pro - to and initiation sexual delay people young help to skills and information priate developmentally-approand - age- provides FACT young to sex of children. mechanics the teaches MYTH and communities.11 families their of those as well as values individual their define and people explore to young opportunity the with provides also education sex sive Comprehen- rights. human agreed universally to linked inextricably are reciprocity and empathy, equality, tolerance, values acceptance, which respect, as in such approach rights-based a ports sup- education sexuality comprehensive Quality corporates values andcultural sensitivity. FACT disregards values andmorals. MYTH 12 sex. regarding mation infor- accurate provided be should people believe young and education sexuality comprehensive support parents that found have studies Several ity education.” sexual- quality good deliver to materials and tools safe and supportive learning environment and the offer theirchildren. could themselvesparents than quality higher a of and beneficial be would in taught cation education. sexThe majority of parents surveyed felt that sex edu- regarding teachers and parents, Lesotho which aimed in to identify the views of conducted young people, was study a Additionally, of theschoolcurriculum.15 to important part as education is sexuality age-appropriate have it believe students and high school middle of parents that of percent found 90 over NPR and Foundation, Family Kaiser conductedthebyKennedy School Government, of Comprehensive sexuality education in- opeesv sxaiy education sexuality Comprehensive opeesv sxaiy education sexuality Comprehensive education sexuality Comprehensive 18 11 5,7,11 16 , 13 , 14

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For example, in through second Research on pledges has found that al- grade, students learn about family structure, though young people who make such pledges the proper names for body parts and what to do may delay sexual initiation, they are one third less if someone touches them inappropriately. In likely to use contraception when they do engage grades three through five, students learn about in sexual activity. Additionally, rates of sexually and the changes they can expect in their transmitted infections were found to be the same bodies. They also begin to receive age-appropri- among those students who committed to a virgin- ate information about HIV, including that the ity pledge versus their peers who had not.34 virus is not transmitted through casual contact. Sixth through eighth grade students receive In addition, according to the United Nations Spe- information on relationships, decision-making, cial Rapporteur report on the , assertiveness, and skill building to resist social/ abstinence-only programs marginalize young . Abstinence is emphasized and people who are already engaged in sexual rela- concepts of disease and prevention tionships. Such programs, including abstinence are introduced in the latter grades. Students in until , do not foster informed and re- are provided more complete in- sponsible decision-making. Rather, these pro- formation about sexually transmitted infections grams normalize stereotypes and promote imag- and pregnancy, abstinence, and contraception es that are discriminatory because they are based and condoms. Students learn about relationships, on heteronormativity; by denying the existence develop healthy and responsible of the , , transsexual, and decision-making skills.5,7,11 bisexual population, they expose these groups to risky and discriminatory practices.24 No comprehensive sexuality program provides information on how to have sex. MYTH Condoms are not effective.25

MYTH Comprehensive sexuality education FACT According to the U.S. Centers for Dis- programs do not promote abstinence.19 ease Control and Prevention, condoms are highly effective in preventing HIV and very FACT Evaluation of 23 comprehensive sex- effective in preventing most STIs, when uality education programs showed that 14 used consistently and correctly.26 were successful at helping young people to According to the U.S. Centers for Diseases Con- delay sexual initiation. trol and Prevention (CDC), when used consis- Comprehensive sexuality education programs tently and correctly, condoms are highly effec- emphasize abstinence as the best and most effec- tive in preventing the sexual transmission of HIV; tive method of avoiding STIs, HIV, and unintended reduce the transmission of and Chla- pregnancy. They also provide young people with mydia; are effective protection against pregnan- information about contraception and condoms cy; and reduce the risk of HPV when the affected to help them protect their health and lives when area is covered.26 they do become sexually active. Research shows that these programs are more effective at help- In one year, only two out of every 100 U.S. couples ing young people delay sexual initiation than ab- who use condoms consistently and correctly will stinence-only programs. In fact, a five-year study experience an . This means mandated by the U.S. Congress of abstinence-on- that two will result from an esti- ly-until-marriage programs demonstrated that ab- mated 8,300 acts of , which is a stinence-only programs have no impact on young 0.02% per-condom pregnancy rate.27 people’s sexual behavior.23 Further, a large study in the U.S. found that abstinence-only programs In a statement made by UNAIDS, UNFPA, and WHO, did not help teens delay sexual intercourse.3 the male latex condom was deemed the single, most effective, available technology to reduce the sexual transmission of HIV and other sexually MYTH Abstinence-only-until-marriage pro- transmitted infections.28 grams work.22 Furthermore, a recent study of declining HIV prevalence in Uganda found no evidence that FACT A five-year study mandated by the abstinence or had contributed to the U.S. Congress determined that abstinence- decline. Findings identified the increased use of only-until-marriage programs were not condoms in casual relationships as important in effective.23 Uganda’s declining HIV infection rates.3 In 2007, the Mathematica Policy Research Insti- tute conducted a federally-funded evaluation of the U.S. Title V abstinence-only-until-marriage programs. The evaluation found no evidence that programs increased rates of abstinence in stu- dents.23 In fact, students in these programs had a similar age of first sexual activity as those not in the program.23 MYTH Comprehensive sexuality education 9. Guttmacher Institute. 2005. Pediatricians’ Association programs are used as a tool to control pop- Suports Comprehensive Approach to Teen Pregnancy Pre- ulation growth.29,30 vention. Available at: http://www.guttmacher.org/media/ inthenews/2005/07/06/index.html (Accessed June 2011). FACT Comprehensive sexuality education 10. Sharon Slater, President of the Global Helping to provides women and families with access Advance Women and Children, statement at the Commis- to vital sexual and in- sion of Population and Development, April 2011. formation so they can voluntarily decide 11. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Or- the size and spacing of their families.31-33 ganization (UNESCO). 2009. International Technical Guid- Comprehensive sexuality education affirms the ance on Sexuality Education: An evidence-informed ap- proach for schools, teachers and health educators. Volume right of couples and individuals to voluntarily de- 1: The Rationale for Sexuality Education. Available at: http:// cide the size and spacing of their families. In de- unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0018/001832/183281e.pdf veloping countries, more than 215 million women (Accessed June 2011). are not using modern contraception.31 12. Bleakley, A, M Hennessy, M Fishbein. 2006. Public Opin- The largest generation of adolescents in history is ion on in US Schools. Archives of Pediatrics entering sexual and reproductive life, therefore, and Adolescent Medicine. 160: 1151-1156. access to sexual and reproductive health informa- 13. Constantine, NA, P Jerman, AX Huang. 2007. California tion, services, and commodities Parents’ Preferences and Beliefs Regarding School-Based are essential.32 During the 2011 annual review ses- Sex . Perspectives on Sexual and Reproduc- sion of the Commission on Population and Devel- tive Health. 39 (3): 167-75. opment, the UN General Assembly recognized the 14. Eisenberg, ME, DH Bernat, LH Bearinger, and MD Resnick. basic right of all couples and individuals to decide 2008. Support for Comprehensive Sexuality Education: Per- freely and responsibly the number, spacing and spectives from parents of school-age youth. Journal of Ado- timing of their children and to have the informa- lescent Health. 42 (4): 352-359. tion and means to do so.33 15. National Public Radio, Kaiser Family Foundation, and Kennedy School of Government. 2004. Sex Educa- Sulava D. Gautam-Adhikary, Program Coordinator, Health tion in America. Available at: http://www.kff.org/news- and Social Equity media/upload/Sex-Education-in-America-Summary.pdf Advocates for Youth © December 2011 (Accessed July 2011). 16. Mturi, AJ, and MM Hennink. 2005. Perceptions of sex educa- References tion for young people in Lesotho. Culture, Health, Sexuality. (2): 129-143. 1. Family Watch International. Special Report Comprehen- sive Sexuality Education: Sexual Rights vs. Sexual Health. 17. Concerned Women for America. 2007. CWA Says Study Available at: http://www.familywatchinternational.org/ Debunking Abstinence is Flawed. Available at: http://www. fwi/documents/Special_Report_on_CSE_Revised_cover. cwfa.org/content.asp?id=12789 (Accessed June 2011). pdf (Accessed June 2011). 18. Wright, Wendy. 2011. CWA speaks at the UN on Wom- 2. Whitehead, K.D. 1996. Sex Education—New Vatican en, Men and Marriage. Concerned Women for America. Guidelines. EWTN Global Catholic Network. Available at: Available at: http://www.cwfa.org/content.asp?id=20155 http://www.ewtn.com/library/issues/se-nvg.txt (Accessed (Accessed Nov 2011). September 2011). 19. Abstinence Works. 2011. Uncovering Comprehensive Sex 3. Kohler, PK, LE Manhart, WE Lafferty. 2008. Abstinence- Education. Available at: http://www.abstinenceworks.org/ only and comprehensive sex education and the initiation of index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=25&Itemid sexual activity and teen pregnancy. Journal of Adolescent =31 (Accessed July 2011). Health. 42 (4): 344-51. 20. Advocates for Youth. 2001. Sex Education Programs: Defi- 4. Kirby, DB, BA Laris, LA Rolleri. 2006. Sex and HIV Educa- nitions & Point-by-Point Comparison. Available at: http:// tion Programs: Their Impact on Sexual Behaviors of Young www.advocatesforyouth.org/publications/655?task=view People Throughout the World. Journal of Adolescent Health (Accessed July 2011). 40 (3): 206-217. 21. American Association (APHA). 2008. Testi- 5. Kirby, DB. 2005. The Impact of Abstinence and Comprehen- mony of the APHA “Domestic Abstinence-Only Programs: sive Sex and STD/HIV Education Programs on Adolescent Assessing the Evidence” House Committee on Oversight Behavior. Sexuality Research and Social Policy. 5 (3): 18-27. and Government Reform. Available at: http://oversight-ar- chive.waxman.house.gov/documents/20080423113713.pdf 6. Mueller, TE, LE Gavin, A Kulkarni. 2007. The Association (Accessed July 2011). Between Sex Education and Youth in Sexual Intercourse, Age at First Intercourse, and Use 22. Rector, R. 2002. The Effectiveness of Abstinence Educa- at First Sex. Journal of Adolescent Health. 42 (1): 89-96. tion Programs in Reducing Sexual Activity Among Youth. Heritage Foundation. Available at: http://www.heritage. 7. Alford, Sue, N. Cheetham, and D. Hauser. Science & Suc- org/Research/Reports/2002/04/The-Effectiveness-of-Absti- cesses in Developing Countries: Holistic Programs that nence-Education-Programs (Accessed June 2011). Work to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, HIV & Sexually Transmit- ted Infections. Advocates for Youth. Available at : http:// 23. Trenholm et al. Impacts of Four Title V, Section 510 www.advocatesforyouth.org/storage/advfy/documents/ Abstinence Education Programs. Princeton: Mathematica sciencesuccess_developing.pdf (Accessed June 2011). Policy Research, 2007. Accessed from http://www.mathe- matica-mpr.com/publications/PDFs/impactabstinence.pdf 8. Collins, C, P Alagiri, T Summers, SF Morin. 2002. Abstinence on July 15, 2009.Advocates for Youth. 2007. The Truth Only vs. Comprehensive Sex Education: What are the argu- about Abstinence-Only Programs. Available at: http:// ments? What is the evidence? Available at: http://ari.ucsf. www.advocatesforyouth.org/publications/409?task=view edu/science/reports/abstinence.pdf (Accessed July 2011). (Accessed June 2011). 24. United Nations. 2010. Report of the United Nations Spe- cial Rapporteur on the right to education. General Assem- bly 65th Session. A/65/162. 25. United Families International. 2008. Your child’s school, Sex Education, and You. Available at: http://unitedfamilies. org/default.asp?contentID=388 (Accessed November 2011). 26. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2011. Con- doms and STDs: Fact Sheet for Public Health Personnel. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/condomeffectiveness/ latex.htm (Accessed July 2011). 27. Hatcher RA et al. Contraceptive Technology, 18th rev. ed. New York: Ardent Media, 2004. 28. Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS. 2009. Con- doms and HIV prevention: Position statement by UNAIDS, UNFPA, and WHO. Available at: http://www.unaids.org/en/ Resources/PressCentre/Featurestories/2009/March/200903 19preventionposition/ (Accessed November 2011). 29. Archbishop Francis Chullikat from the Holy See at the 44th Session of the Commission on Population and Devel- opment, April 2011. 30. Ms. Denise Mountenay from the NGO-Endeavour Forum Inc. at the 44th Session of the Commission on Population and Development, April 2011. 31. Population Action International. 2001. 7 Billion and Counting What Global Population Growth Means for People and the Planet. Available at: http://www.populationaction. org/Publications/Policy_and_Issue_Brief/7_Billion_and_ Counting/7bn2011.pdf (Accessed July 2011). 32. United Nations. 2009. Resolution 2009/1. Commission on Population and Development. Available at: http://www. un.org/esa/population/cpd/cpd2009/CPD42_Res2009-1.pdf (Accessed June 2011). 33. United Nations. 2011. Resolution adopted at the closing plenary session: Fertility, reproductive health and develop- ment. Commission on Population and Development 44th Session. Available at: http://www.un.org/esa/population/ cpd/cpd2011/cpd44-resolution.pdf (Accessed June 2011). 34. Bruckner H, Bearman, PS. After the promise: the STD con- sequences of adolescent virginity pledges. Journal of Ado- lescent Health 36 (2005) 271-278. 35 . Wawer MJ et al. Declines in HIV Prevalence in Uganda: Not as Simple as ABC. Presentation at the 12th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, February 22- 25, 2005, Boston, Massachusetts; http://www.retroconfer- ence.org/2005/CD/Abstracts/25775.htm; accessed 3/2/2005.