BZgA_21973_00_Umschlag 19.10.2007 11:54 Uhr Seite U1 BZgA/WHO Conference on Youth Sex Education in a Multicultural Europe Cologne, November 2006 Documentation BZgA_21973_00_Umschlag 19.10.2007 11:54 Uhr Seite 2 BZgA_21973_00_Umschlag 19.10.2007 11:54 Uhr Seite 3 BZgA/WHO Conference on Youth Sex Education in a Multicultural Europe Cologne, November 2006 Documentation BZgA_21973_00_Umschlag 19.10.2007 11:54 Uhr Seite 4 Table of contents Preface . 5 1. Introduction and methodological approach . 6 2. Welcome addresses . 12 2.1 Elisabeth Pott, Director, Federal Centre for Health Education (BZgA) . 13 2.2 Gerd Hoofe, State Secretary, Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ) . 16 3. Youth sex education in a multicultural Europe . 18 3.1 Sexual and reproductive health of young people in Europe (Gunta Lazdane, WHO/Europe) . 19 3.2 European partnership to promote the sexual and reproductive health and rights of young people (Rita Khamzayeva, IPPF – European Network) . 24 3.3 Challenges of sex education in Portugal (Duarte Vilar, AFP) . 26 3.4 Presentation of synopsis on country-level papers (Cornelia Helfferich, Institute for Social Research on Women and Gender) . 28 3.5 The European Commission Initiative to set up a sexual and reproductive health working group at European level (Dadi Einarsson, European Commission) . 31 4. Quality management in sex education . 32 4.1 Quality management in practice (Eckhard Schroll, BZgA) . 33 4.2 Forum: Quality management in practice . 37 5. Transferability of youth sex education programmes and activities in the European region . 78 5.1 Sexuality education: Cultural sensitivity and transferability (Sóley S. Bender, University of Iceland) . 79 5.2 Transferring tools and approaches to different countries and cultures: three examples . 83 6. Outcomes of the conference . 92 7. Conference conclusions and recommendations . 104 Appendices Conference programme . 106 Speakers' profiles . 110 List of participants . 116 Organisation and technical support . 129 Imprint . 131 4 Youth Sex Education in a Multicultural Europe BZgA_21973_00_Umschlag 19.10.2007 11:54 Uhr Seite 5 Preface Germany's Federal Centre for Health Education In this context, the BZgA together with the (BZgA) has been a WHO Collaboration Centre European Regional Office of the World Health for sexual and reproductive health since 2003. Organisation in Copenhagen held an interna- Within this field, the BZgA supports in particular tional conference from 14th to 16th November the WHO programme to intensify cooperation 2006 in Cologne on the subject of “Sex with the countries of Central and Eastern Education for Young People in a Multicultural Europe. Europe”. Since 1992, in accordance with the German leg- The conference offered experts a forum for pre- islation on support for pregnancy and families, senting and discussing national strategies and the BZgA has been responsible for producing sex successful initiatives in the various fields of activ- education and family planning concepts, tailored ity in the WHO Euro Region. As well as an oppor- to the needs of specific target groups, and for tunity for sharing information and experience, disseminating these concepts nationwide. The the conference aimed at encouraging network- aim is to prevent pregnancy conflicts and to pro- ing and collaboration in the European region. mote general sex education. The overall approach to sex education, formulated in collab- Through this documentation we would like to oration with the individual federal states, spec- make the results of the conference available. The ifies the responsibilities, programme contents, speeches delivered and papers presented in the aims and target groups (the public at large, working groups provide an insight into the diffi- young people and young adults in particular, culties and criteria for the success of sex educa- and multiplicators). Sex education is understood tion projects in the various countries. The dis- here in accordance with the WHO definition of cussions and recommendations underscore the sexuality as a lifelong process, aiming to engen- common agreement of the participants on the der self-determined and responsible attitudes conditions that are necessary for sex education and behaviour with regard to sexuality, contra- to be successful, despite differing regional cir- ception, relationships and life strategies and cumstances. planning. The BZgA views the international exchange on The first phase of the collaboration between the the basis of national analyses from 16 countries WHO and the BZgA focuses on young people. as the central foundation for further cooper- Increasing mobility through the opening of ation, for know-how transfer in the European national frontiers makes young people a particu- region and for the continuation of the debate on larly important target group in regional and the issues involved. The aim is to strengthen national strategies for improving sexual and multicultural sex education in Europe. reproductive health. In its strategies for improving sexual and repro- Prof Dr Elisabeth Pott ductive health (WHO 2001) in the European region, the WHO sets out the following goals: Director of the Federal Centre for Health reducing the incidence of unwanted pregnancy, Education pregnancy termination and sexually transmitted infections; educating young people in the fields Cologne, July 2007 of reproduction and sexuality; and ensuring equal access to health services. The collabor- ation with the WHO is focused on providing young people with the information and skills they need and supporting them in asserting their rights. Youth Sex Education in a Multicultural Europe 5 BZgA_21973_01_Indroduction 19.10.2007 10:30 Uhr Seite 6 Introduction and 1 methodological approach BZgA_21973_01_Indroduction 19.10.2007 10:30 Uhr Seite 7 Introduction and methodological approach Background The Federal Centre for Health Education (BZgA) was designated a WHO Collaboration Centre in 1983. Since then the focus has changed twice and it was in 2003 that the designation as WHO Collaboration Centre for Sexual and Reproductive Health took place. The collaboration is based on commonly agreed terms of reference and a four- year plan of work. Practically, the work plan is implemented in close partnership with the Reproductive Health and Research Department of the WHO Regional Office for Europe. About two years ago, the WHO expressed particular interest in the BZgA’s expertise in youth sex education and suggested that an international conference be organised where this experience could be shared among WHO-Euro member states. Scope and purpose of the conference In consequence, the development and im- plementation of sex education programmes At the International Conference on Population addressing the specific needs of young people and Development, held in Cairo in 1994, sexual play a key role in the promotion of reproductive and reproductive health were identified as an and sexual health. However, “youth” does not area of special concern for all national health constitute a homogenous group, and reproduc- services. This includes both prevention and care tive health is closely associated with socio- and covers a range of issues, such as safe mother- cultural factors, such as gender differences and hood, reproductive choices and STI/HIV/ AIDS religious beliefs. Countries therefore need to control. In view of the extreme regional dispari- develop their own designs and strategies. ties, the WHO European Regional Strategy on Another challenge is to meet the specific sexual Sexual and Reproductive Health, published in and reproductive health needs of the increasing 2001, underlines the need for a comprehensive population of refugees and temporary or perma- framework and for solidarity among member nent migrants in many member states of the states, which need to address problems like ado- WHO European Region. lescent pregnancy, unsafe abortions, sexual abuse, particularly of girls and women, and the The conference created a forum for technical alarming increase of the HIV pandemic. experts from both governmental and non-gov- ernmental organisations to assess different Adolescents constitute one of the specific target national strategies and their implementation groups of global, regional and national repro- within the WHO European Region. The aim was ductive and sexual health strategies. They often to share experience and best practice, learn from lack the knowledge and the ability to control one another and create networks and partner- their sexual and reproductive lives and are sub- ships where it seems to be fruitful. In addition, ject to cultural norms and taboos which can be two aspects were highlighted and results were harmful. Therefore, they are particularly vulner- produced during the conference: one was the able and prone to engage in risky sexual behav- multicultural dimension; the other was the quali- iour. ty of sex education. Youth Sex Education in a Multicultural Europe 7 BZgA_21973_01_Indroduction 19.10.2007 10:30 Uhr Seite 8 ■ Recommendations on how to deal with mul- ticultural dimensions in the field of youth sex education. ■ Identification of further research and capacity- building needs for each of the main topics, namely “multicultural dimensions”, “quality management” and “life skills approach”. ■ Initiation and strengthening of partnerships and collaboration at regional level; identifica- tion of strategies to further promote these relationships. Preliminary study: country-level papers