ADOLESCENT SEXUALITY

1. ADOLESCENT SEXUALITY

2. Definitions In 1989, the joint WHO/UNFPA/UNICEF Statement gave the following definitions: Adolescents: 10-19 year olds; Youth: 15-24 year olds; Young People: 10-24 year olds. ...the meaning of the term ‘youth’ varies in different societies and changes continuously in response to political, economic and socio-cultural circumstances.”

3. ICPD POA CAIRO 1994 Adolescents Basis for Action • The reproductive health needs of adolescents largely ignored to date • Information to make responsible decisions - end objective

4. ICPD POA CAIRO 1994 Adolescents • Information and services should help adolescents - understand their sexuality - protect from unwanted pregnancies - sexually transmitted diseases and - subsequent risk of infertility • Education of young men to respect women’s self-determination

5. ICPD POA CAIRO 1994 Adolescents • Share responsibility in sexuality and reproduction • Motherhood at a very young age - risks of maternal death and morbidity • Children of young mothers have higher levels of morbidity and mortality

6. ICPD POA CAIRO 1994 Adolescents • Early child-bearing impedes rise in status - education, economic and social • Early marriage, early motherhood curtails opportunities - education and employment • Long-term, adverse impact on quality of life

7. ICPD POA CAIRO 1994 Adolescents • Important factors in high levels of adolescent child-bearing - Poor educational and economic opportunities - sexual exploitation • Adolescents with few apparent life choices have little incentive to avoid pregnancy and child bearing • Low-income adolescents face pressures to engage in sexual activity

8. ICPD POA CAIRO 1994 Adolescents • High risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS • Typically poorly informed about how to protect themselves • Programmes most effective with the full involvement of adolescents - in identifying their reproductive and sexual health needs - in designing programmes that respond to those needs

9. ICPD POA CAIRO 1994 Adolescents Actions Countries must ensure that the programmes and attitudes of health-care providers do not restrict the access of adolescents to appropriate services and the information they need including on sexually transmitted diseases and sexual abuse

10. ICPD POA CAIRO 1994 Adolescents These services must safeguard the rights of adolescents to privacy, confidentiality, respect and informed consent, respecting cultural values and religious beliefs

11. ICPD POA CAIRO 1994 Adolescents Countries should where appropriate, remove legal, regulatory and social barriers to reproductive health information and care for adolescents

12. ICPD POA CAIRO 1994 Adolescents Programmes for the prevention and treatment of sexual abuse and incest and other reproductive health services should be provided

13. ICPD POA CAIRO 1994 Adolescents Adolescents must be fully involved in the planning, implementation and evaluation of such information and services with proper regard for parental guidance and responsibilities

14. ICPD POA CAIRO 1994 Adolescents Programmes should involve and train all who are in a position to provide guidance to adolescents concerning responsible sexual and reproductive behaviour, particularly parents and families, and also communities, religious institutions, schools, the mass media and peer groups

15. ICPD POA CAIRO 1994 Adolescents Such programmes should include support mechanisms for the education and counselling of adolescents in the areas of gender relations and equality, violence against adolescents, responsible sexual behaviour, responsible family-planning practice, family life, reproductive health, sexually transmit-ted diseases, HIV infection and AIDS prevention