International workshop on sex education, HIV/AIDS and drug use prevention in school environments.

Organized by UNESCO, UNAIDS and GIZ

• © UNESCO / Mary Guinn Delaney

"Harmonization of public policies for sex education and HIV, AIDS and drug use prevention in schools" is the name of the international workshop that is to be held on 21 and 22 August 2012 in Santiago de Chile. The event is organized by UNESCO Santiago, together with UNAIDS and the German Cooperation Agency GIZ and will involve representatives of the Ministries of Health and Education from nine countries in Latin America, which are part of the "Community of Practice Sexuality Education."

"Harmonization of public policies for sex education and HIV, AIDS and drug use prevention in schools" is the name of the international workshop that is to be held on 21 and 22 August 2012 in Santiago de Chile. The event is organized by UNESCO Santiago, together with UNAIDS and the German Cooperation Agency GIZ and will involve representatives of the Ministries of Health and Education from nine countries in Latin America, which are part of the "Community of Practice Sexuality Education."

Experiences and Learning Communally

Mary Guinn Delaney, Regional Advisor on HIV and AIDS at UNESCO Santiago, stressed the importance of creating spaces for dialogue, exchange and updating between the countries of the region, as they generally face similar contexts and priorities, especially when considering HIV. This specialist said that "although there are differences regarding the progress made on the subject in each country, sex education remains a sensitive issue in the region, so it tends to be faced with constant ups and downs that need to be reviewed and understood. The important thing is that each country has a course and host of very interesting experiences to be shared, this will allow the whole of the region to have a clearer common horizon."

The school environment remains a prime location for reaching students through sexual education from a young age, preventing gender based violence, sexual child abuse, teen pregnancy, and sexually transmitted diseases.

In Latin America, an important issue linked to the prevention of HIV is the associated stigma and discrimination experienced by the many people who live with a sexual or gender identity that is different from that culturally established. Addressing sexual education from a holistic approach allows, as indicated by the International Technical Guidance of UNESCO, that people live their sexuality fully according to their own beliefs and values, making their own decisions and adopting healthy behaviors and responsibilities to ensure a higher level of health.

More information:

• UNESCO´s response on HIV/AIDS
• Sex education for the Prevention of HIV
• UNESCO Clearinghouse on HIV

• 17-08-2012