UN: Fight misinformation on sex education

MANILA, Philippines — The United Nations has called for combatting misinformation about the comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) and the role of various UN agencies supporting the rollout of the curriculum-based process of teaching and learning accurate and age-appropriate information for young people.

The UN expressed support for ongoing efforts by the government and its partners in addressing serious challenges hampering the country’s development pathway, including adolescent pregnancy, maternal mortality, HIV infection and various forms of gender-based violence.

It said age-appropriate sexuality education is a proven tool to address such challenges.

Research has shown that too many young people still make the transition from childhood to adulthood receiving inaccurate or incomplete information about sexual and reproductive health, leaving them vulnerable to coercion, sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancy.

“This is why the UN supports the roll out of comprehensive sexuality education around the world, in a culturally appropriate manner,” the UN said.

Jose Roi Avena, deputy representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to the Philippines, said CSE addresses a complex area of intersection between health, education, prevention and social development, based on research, data and analysis of social behaviors.”

“In recent weeks, however, misinformation about CSE and the role of various United Nations agencies has circulated in the Philippines,” Avena added.

The UN in the Philippines has expressed support for efforts by several stakeholders, including the Department of Education, legislators, the Council for the Welfare of Children and the Child Rights Network “in clarifying what CSE is and what it is not.”

“The UN encourages all Filipinos to verify information they are exposed to,” Avena said.

“The UN shares accurate scientific knowledge and relevant lessons learned and good practices, which has been adapted by the Department of Education to be culturally sensitive and age-appropriate,” he stressed.

Several groups, lawmakers and President Marcos have expressed disapproval about the proposed CSE in the Senate bill that seeks to prevent adolescent pregnancies.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara assured the public that no “inappropriate concepts” related to the CSE program would be implemented in public schools.

Imee back sex ed

Sen. Imee Marcos yesterday expressed support for the Senate Bill (SB) 1979, or the Teenage Pregnancy Prevention bill, as she cited the alarming cases of young mothers in the country.

Marcos said she is a co-author in Sen. Risa Hontiveros’ sponsored measure, the proposed Prevention of Teenage Pregnancy Act.

Marcos defended the CSE provision of the bill, as she denied that it would deprive parents from teaching their children about sex.

“My version of the bill tackled the overwhelming problem of teenage pregnancy in the Philippines which, with one out of 10 teenage girls pregnant or with a child, has been cited by the World Bank as not only a moral problem, but an economic loss for these girls’ education and future job prospects,” she said.

“While the present bill is significantly different from mine, in no way does it intend to deprive parents of their primordial authority and guidance,” she added.

The bill will not infringe on the parents’ authority over their children, and instead involve government agencies such as the Departments of Education, Health and Social Welfare and Development to help parents with “medically accurate, culturally sensitive, non discriminatory” information, according to the senator. – Cecille Suerte Felipe, Jose Rodel Clapano, Delon Porcalla, Janvic Mateo, Neil Jayson Servallos