Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research (SRH)
Including the Human Reproduction Special Programme (HRP)

Comprehensive sexuality education (CSE)

Comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) plays a central role in the preparation of young people for a safe, productive, fulfilling life in a world where HIV and AIDS, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), unintended pregnancies, gender-based violence (GBV) and gender inequality still pose serious risks to their well-being.

However, despite clear and compelling evidence for the benefits of high-quality, curriculum-based CSE, few children and young people receive preparation for their lives that empowers them to take control and make informed decisions about their sexuality and relationships freely and responsibly.

Countries are increasingly acknowledging the importance of equipping young people with the knowledge and skills to make responsible choices in their lives, particularly in a context where they have greater exposure to sexually explicit material through the Internet and other media.

 

Co-publications on CSE

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This report draws on multiple data sources to provide analysis of countries’ progress towards delivering good quality school-based CSE to all learners....
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The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), with collaborating partners from the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Educational, Scientific...

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- Revised edition - Comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) plays a central role in the preparation of young people for a safe, productive, fulfilling...

Journal articles

2022

Adebayo E, Essiet A, Plesons M, et al. "Commitment, Concessions and Compromise. Experiences of building support for and addressing resistance to sexuality education from Nigeria" Open Health, vol. 3, no. 1, 2022, pp. 155-167. https://doi.org/10.1515/openhe-2022-0027

2020

Plesons M, Khanna A, Ziauddin M, Gogoi A, Chandra-Mouli V. Building an enabling environment and responding to resistance to sexuality education programmes: experience from Jharkhand, India. Reprod Health. 2020;17(1):168. Published 2020 Oct 30. doi:10.1186/s12978-020-01003-9

 

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Multimedia