Lanka prepares sex education policy

24 December 2012 05:51 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 24 Bookmark

CHATURANGA PRADEEP SAMARAWICKRAMA Follow

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Sri Lanka has compiled a legal and policy document on sexual and re-productive health for youth and adolescents in accordance with its global obligation to protect the youth from sexual diseases through education, Health Ministry spokesman Dharma Wanninayaka said yesterday.

He said the right to information on sexuality and re-productive health was a human right of the youth. It has been ratified by the United Nations and the World Health Organisation (WHO). Almost all developed countries have adopted this document and taken steps to ensure it was implemented.

Mr. Wanninayake said a Health Education Bureau study had revealed that the education in reproductive health and sexuality among youth in Sri Lanka was extremely poor in comparison with other countries. “The poor knowledge on these vital subjects at the right time can pose social, familial, psychological and sexual problems at the later stage,” he added.

Mr. Wanninayaka said the document could act as a guide to policy makers if the government intended to include sex education in the school curricular which has become a matter of public debate right now.

The release of the policy document on sexuality and re-productive health was held in Colombo at a work shop attended by medical experts and psychologists from Sri Lanka, Australia, Myanmar, Bhutan and Indonesia. (Sandun A. Jayasekera)