TY - JOUR
T1 - Comprehensive Sexuality Education, Healthcare Professional Associations, and the Future of the World's Youth
AU - Gray, Nicola J.
AU - Bansal, C. P.
AU - Corona, Esther
AU - Jayasinghe, Yasmin
AU - Kang, Melissa
AU - Labovsky, Marisa
AU - Sridhar, Aparna
AU - Sussman, Linda
AU - Klein, Jonathan D.
N1 - Funding Information:
Conflicts of interest: Dr Gray, Dr Kang, and Dr Klein are Council Members of the International Association for Adolescent Health (IAAH), whose infrastructure is supported by a grant from the AstraZeneca Foundation. Dr Gray reports a grant from the Commonwealth Fund of New York City to her institution. She is also a Trustee of the UK Association for Young People's Health and is cochair of the UNESCO Chair \u201CGlobal Health and Education,\u201D which is supported by nonprofit organizations MGEN and Groupe VYV. University Clermont-Auvergne and the University of Huddersfield provide in-kind contributions to support the Chair's secretariat and infrastructure. Dr Jayasinghe is funded by an Australian Government Medical Research Future Fund grant ref: MRFAR000308. Dr Kang is coauthor of commercial books for adolescents, which include the topics of consent, puberty, and sex. Dr Labofsky is a speaker for MSD about Gardasil 9. Other authors report no conflicts of interest.
PY - 2025/5/1
Y1 - 2025/5/1
N2 - Sexual and reproductive health rights are agreed in international laws [1]. In recent years, however, diminishing reproductive health rights have been seen across the globe, including limitations in the provision of comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) for adolescents and young adults (AYAs). CSE is defined by the World Health Organization as “a curriculum-based process of teaching and learning about the cognitive, emotional, physical, and social aspects of sexuality [2].” CSE aims to empower AYAs to realize their health and dignity, consider the impact of their health choices, and develop respectful relationships in order for them to lead their best lives. Recognizing these increasing threats to what AYAs need and want, five healthcare professional associations engaged in discussion with UN agencies and each other about advocating effectively for evidence-based CSE; this commentary summarizes five policy statements motivated by these discussions and registers publicly our collective organizations’ support for CSE in schools.
AB - Sexual and reproductive health rights are agreed in international laws [1]. In recent years, however, diminishing reproductive health rights have been seen across the globe, including limitations in the provision of comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) for adolescents and young adults (AYAs). CSE is defined by the World Health Organization as “a curriculum-based process of teaching and learning about the cognitive, emotional, physical, and social aspects of sexuality [2].” CSE aims to empower AYAs to realize their health and dignity, consider the impact of their health choices, and develop respectful relationships in order for them to lead their best lives. Recognizing these increasing threats to what AYAs need and want, five healthcare professional associations engaged in discussion with UN agencies and each other about advocating effectively for evidence-based CSE; this commentary summarizes five policy statements motivated by these discussions and registers publicly our collective organizations’ support for CSE in schools.
KW - Sexual and reproductive health
KW - World health organization
KW - sexuality
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105001794791
U2 - 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2025.02.002
DO - 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2025.02.002
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:105001794791
SN - 1054-139X
VL - 76
SP - 757
EP - 760
JO - Journal of Adolescent Health
JF - Journal of Adolescent Health
IS - 5
ER -
SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being