This newly updated CD-ROM contains key resources developed by UNESCO’s ongoing programme of work on sexuality education as part of a comprehensive education sector response to HIV and AIDS within the EDUCAIDS framework.

UNESCO’s work on sexuality education is situated within the Section of HIV and Health Education, Division of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development, in the Education Sector. In late 2007 UNESCO began a programme of work on sexuality education, primarily as a platform for strengthened efforts on HIV prevention with children and young people, but including broader sexual and reproductive health objectives such as the prevention of other STIs as well as unintended pregnancy. Non-health outcomes – particularly gender equality – are also a priority and will continue to receive greater attention through UNESCO’s programming efforts at regional and country level.  In 2008 Ministers of Education and Health in Latin America and the Caribbean signed a declaration pledging to provide comprehensive sexuality education as part of the school curriculum in Latin America and the Caribbean, creating an additional impetus for regional and global level actions in support of sexuality education.

UNESCO’s work is guided by recommendations from a Global Advisory Group on Sexuality Education which identified the need for work in the following areas: international standards on sexuality education; documentation of good practice; the cost and cost- effectiveness of sexuality education programmes; and, the implications of scaling up good quality sexuality education. The Review of Sex, Relationships & HIV Education in Schools (2007) was prepared for the first meeting of the Global Advisory Group. In response to the recommendations of the Global Advisory Group, UNESCO has undertaken a series of activities, including the publication of key technical and programming resources for use at international and country level:

1.      The International Technical Guidance on Sexuality Education (Vol. I & II) (2009) 

2.      A six country Cost and Cost-Effectiveness Study of sexuality education programmes (2011)

3.      Levers of Success, which contains examples of good practice country case studies (2010)

4.      Scaling-Up Comprehensive Sexuality Education (2012)

UNESCO has also published booklets 6 and 7 in the series ‘Good Policy and Practice in HIV and Health Education’ focusing on pre-service teacher training (GPP 6) and gender, HIV and education (GPP7), as well as Positive Learning: Meeting the needs of young people living with HIV in the education sector (2011).

In terms of regionally-specific resources, UNESCO has recently published a Review of Policies and Strategies to Implement and Scale Up Sexuality Education (2012) in Asia Pacific and supported an innovative new curriculum review and strengthening process in 10 countries in East and Southern Africa (the Curriculum Scans). Similarly, a series of EDUCAIDS country snapshots highlight particular actions based on sexuality education that have been taken within the comprehensive EDUCAIDS sectoral framework. The Sexuality Education Review and Analysis Tool (SERAT), which was developed initially for use in West and Central Africa, has also been instrumental in assessing national sexuality education programmes.

All these resources and more are available on this CD-ROM, in printed copy and in multiple languages. To request printed copies please contact: aids(at)unesco.org

Regular progress updates on the programme are available from www.unesco.org/aids