SafeYouth_PolicyPaper_V1(NA)_31_8_FV_FINAL

www.safeyouth.eu As the Commissioner for the Protection of Children's Rights notes in her report²: Inadequate implementation of sexuality education means that young people lack accurate, accessible, and holistic information on sexual health and rights, as well as the necessary knowledge and skills to make responsible decisions about their health and wellbeing and develop healthy and equal relationships. Research shows that when sex education is offered early, it can reduce the risk of unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections and promote healthy sexuality development and relationship satisfaction among young people³. Recommendations:  Inclusion of sexuality education (as a compulsory course) at all levels of education – from Kindergarten to High School - as well as for students attending special schools and special units;  Systematic and mandatory training and support of all educational staff at all levels in matters of sexuality education,  Design and implementation of a monitoring and evaluation system to assess the performance of all the success indicators of the Health Education Program, as well as the the implementation of educational programs;  Organization of informative and educational programs for parents;  Research on the needs of children and young people concerning sexuality and reproductive rights and services;  Further funding to NGO’s that develop and implement Comprehensive Sexuality Education programs in schools. As regards the information that children receive today in the context of compulsory education, the children themselves report that the Life Education course included in the New Analytical Programs of the Ministry of Education and Culture, at the Secondary Education level, is not taught sufficiently, not even regularly. On the contrary, according to all the children, it is delivered piecemeal, insufficiently and by inadequately trained staff.