Uganda – Sexuality education: Is it a game changer?

Wednesday, September 07, 2022
Mariana Kayaga

During the national consultations by the East African Legislative Assembly (Eala) on the East African Community Sexual and Reproductive Health Bill (EAC SRH Bill), a section of clerics argued that sexuality education sexualises children and that “children have no business engaging in sex”.

They further argued that sexuality education for children should be left to the parents. Discussions on sexuality education have always been a polarising debate and this is partly fueled by misconceptions and misinformation. For a long time, there has been the misconception that sexuality education and sex education are the same thing. However, sexuality education is a curriculum-based means of teaching and learning about cognitive, emotional, physical and social aspects of sexuality.

Continued: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/oped/commentary/sexuality-education-is-it-a-game-changer--3939374

07.09.2022

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comprehensive sexuality education

East African Community Sexual and Reproductive Health Bill

Tricked and uninformed: why so many young girls in Kenya are getting pregnant

May 30, 2021
Anthony Idowu Ajayi

The rate of early unintended pregnancy in Kenya is shockingly high. About one in five girls between the ages of 15 and 19 have begun having children. It’s worse in some areas than others. For instance, the rate is as high as two in five in Narok and Homa Bay counties. Most of these pregnancies are unplanned and unintended.

Getting pregnant at such a young age can harm a girl’s health and socioeconomic wellbeing.

Continued: https://theconversation.com/tricked-and-uninformed-why-so-many-young-girls-in-kenya-are-getting-pregnant-161098

Uganda – Unwanted pregnancy? Who is to blame?

September 18, 2020
Doreen N Kyampeire, RedPepper Editorial

Growing up in a typical African home, girls are usually told not to bring home a pre-marital pregnancy and boys not to impregnate someone’s daughter out of wedlock. This threat by parents and guardians poses a mystery to the African child of how exactly this said “evil” happens.

They are never given the full detail on how pregnancy actually happens. This points to a very large gap in sexuality education. The little information got is from the senior women and men teachers in schools which is usually not comprehensive.

Continued: http://redpepper.co.ug/2020/09/doreen-n-kyamp-oped/

18.09.2020

World Health Organization

Malaysia – LETTER | Reduce adolescent pregnancy, uphold sexual and reproductive health

Federation of Reproductive Health Associations Malaysia
Published 9 Sep 2020

LETTER | We, leaders and representatives of civil society organisations, professional societies, scientific associations, faith-based organisations, government agencies and departments, private for-profit entities, non-governmental, non-profit organisations, and citizens of Malaysia, are united to reduce unintended adolescent pregnancies in Malaysia.

We desire a society where every person below 18 years of age enjoys health and well-being, is treated with love and respect, and is capable of realising their fullest potential. However, we are concerned with the reported rising rate of unprotected adolescent sexual activity, of which the health and social impacts include unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortion or miscarriages, disrupted education, child marriage, social stigma, and further victimisation.

Continued: https://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/542003

09.09.2020

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adolescent pregnancy

Federation of Reproductive Health Associations Malaysia

FRHAM

sexual and reproductive health and rights

sexual and reproductive health education

Nepal – ‘Media coverage of safe abortion, marriage equality insufficient’

Kathmandu, August 20

A media monitoring study has concluded that mainstream daily newspapers of the country have not given sufficient space to the issues related to safe abortion, and marriage equality.

Yuwalaya, a youth NGO, says it made the conclusion after monitoring the news reports published in 10 daily newspapers published from Kathmandu throughout 2019. The report was made public in Kathmandu on Wednesday.

Continued: https://english.onlinekhabar.com/media-coverage-of-safe-abortion-marriage-equality-insufficient.html

20.08.2020

media and abortion

media coverage of abortion

Ghana – Wassa East District youth leaders receive training on reproductive health

By Ghana News Agency
Aug 14, 2020

The Western Regional Coordinating Council and National Youth Authority in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFP), have organised a day’s advocacy training for about forty-five youth leaders in the Wassa East District of the Western Region.

The programme, which forms part of the celebration of this year’s International Youth Day, was to among others sensitize the youth on their Sexual Reproductive Health Right (SRHR) and Sexual and Gender Base Violence (SGBV).

Continued: https://newsghana.com.gh/wassa-east-district-youth-leaders-receive-training-on-reproductive-health/

Rwanda – If you are under 18, the law limits your access to reproductive health services. It is time to change, activists say

By Ange Iliza
August 13, 2020

The law relating to Human Reproductive Health in Rwanda grants every person the right to medical services and information related to human reproductive health.

However, the law limits people under 18 years of age from deciding for themselves on issues regarding reproductive health and offers no clear guidelines on how adolescents can access services related to sexual health and reproduction.

Continued: https://www.newtimes.co.rw/news/if-you-are-under-18-law-limits-your-access-reproductive-health-services-it-time-change

13.08.2020

Centre for Health and Rights

Clementine Nyirarukundo

Marie Ange Uwase

minors access to healthcare

Paper Crown Rwanda

Rwanda Human Reproductive Health law

Putting young people first: Ensuring access to SRHR services

Stevie Emilia, The Jakarta Post
Jakarta / Tue, August 11, 2020

Calls for investments in young people have increased dramatically in recent years.

But the year 2020 is proving to be a difficult, life changing year as the pandemic has exposed deep inequalities in income, access to basic services and social protection for young people.

Continued: https://www.thejakartapost.com/life/2020/08/11/putting-young-people-first-ensuring-access-to-srhr-services.html

Kenya is having another go at passing a reproductive rights bill. What’s at stake

July 12, 2020
Anthony Idowu Ajayi, Meggie Mwoka

Kenya’s Senate is considering a reproductive healthcare bill, which seeks to address reproductive health gaps. This is the second time the bill has come before the senate. It has, once again, drawn fire from religious groups, some politicians and civil society lobbies opposed to its proposals. Anthony Ajayi and Meggie Mwoka unpack the bill and the lessons from previous failed attempts.

What is the substance of the bill?

Kenyan women and girls face an array of reproductive health risks that can be addressed by comprehensive reproductive health care services. These include sexually transmitted infections, HIV, unsafe abortion and unplanned pregnancies.

Continued: https://theconversation.com/kenya-is-having-another-go-at-passing-a-reproductive-rights-bill-whats-at-stake-142387

Tanzania – A candid conversation on safe sex can save your teenager’s life

A candid conversation on safe sex can save your teenager’s life

Monday February 17 2020
By Dr Chris Peterson

It had been a while since I heard from Janeth, 17, my young sister and a friend from my village I grew up. Our friendship actually started about three years ago at a community-health outreach programme in our village. I remember her telling me that she was inpsired to become a doctor just like me.

Since then, I have always been there for her to offer any advise on her academic issues. But I was surprised, it had been months since she last called. I had a visit due to my village and was hoping to meet her. Unfortunately, upon reaching, I was informed that Janeth passed away due to a complication that resulted from attempting unsafe abortion.

Continued: https://www.thecitizen.co.tz/magazine/1840564-5458814-mywoirz/index.html

17.02.2020