A chatbot named Eli that can answer questions about growing up, love, relationships and sexual health, including HIV prevention and treatment, has been launched on the VKontakte social network, adding to the resources for health available to young people in eastern Europe and central Asia.
Europe: Comprehensive sexuality education protects children and helps build a safer, inclusive society
Comprehensive sexuality education is part of a good quality education. Thus, it should be provided for by law, be mandatory and mainstreamed across the education system as of the early school years. It is of concern that, according to a 2018 survey, sexuality education was mandatory in only 11 out of the 22 Council of Europe member states reviewed.
Role of the media in raising awareness of the importance of comprehensive sex education: discussion with journalists, civil society and stakeholders.
Dispelling the Myths About Sexuality Education
Morocco Needs an Alternative to ‘Halal Sex Education’ That Works
UN issues local edition of sex education guide
Comprehensive sexuality education to prevent gender-based violence
China: Eliminating gender-based violence through policy and legal advocacy
UN urges comprehensive approach to sexuality education
Philippines: Are we progressing from insult to inclusion? Expert consultation on education sector responses to violence on basis of SOGIE
UNESCO: Report shows homophobic and transphobic violence in education to be a global problem
In some countries, 85% of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students experience homophobic and transphobic violence in school, 45 % of transgender students drop out. Homophobic violence also targets 33% of students who are wrongly perceived to be LGBT because they do not appear to conform to gender norms.
These are the findings from Out In The Open, a global report on education sector responses to violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity or expression. Compiled by UNESCO, the report reveals the nature, scope and impact of the violence, the status of education sector responses and recommendations for the way forward. Read more via UNESCO
UNESCO: How can we go ‘From Insult to Inclusion’ for all learners?
The majority of LGBTI youth in Asia-Pacific say they have been subjected to some form of violence or bullying in school. This can take many forms – physical, verbal, psychological or sexual abuse or social exclusion both online and off. The end result remains the same: millions of young learners throughout the Asia-Pacific region are being denied their right to an education. The impacts can be lifelong and devastating in terms of economic and employment prospects, as well as on a personal level: Asia-Pacific studies show that up to one in three LGBTI learners report depression; up to seven in 10 report harming themselves and nearly five in 10 have attempted suicide.
“From Insult to Inclusion”, the first review of its kind to comprehensively examine these challenges in Asia-Pacific, looks at the broader legal and educational contexts in countries throughout the region related to bullying on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity and expression, and features the voices of young learners themselves and their personal stories of abuse and exclusion. Concrete steps that education sector planners, teachers, school leaders and communities throughout the region can take to address this situation are also presented. Read more via UNESCO