SAfAIDS and RIATT - ESA Regional eForum: The role of Comprehensive Sexuality Education in addressing Adolescent SRH

The Southern Africa HIV and AIDS Information Dissemination Service (SAfAIDS), in partnership with the Regional Interagency Task Team on Children and AIDS in east and southern Africa (RIATT-ESA), is delighted to announce the launch of a new 5 day electronic discussion forum (eForum) focusing on the role of comprehensive sexuality education in addressing adolescent sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and HIV and AIDS prevention.

Few young people receive adequate preparation for their sexual lives. This leaves them potentially vulnerable to coercion, abuse and exploitation, unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV. Many young people approach adulthood faced with conflicting and confusing messages about sexuality and gender. This is often exacerbated by embarrassment, silence and disapproval of open discussion of sexual matters by adults, including parents and teachers, at the very time when it is most needed.

However, there are many settings globally where young people are becoming sexually mature and active at an earlier age. They are also marrying later, thereby extending the period of time from sexual maturity until marriage.

Effective sexuality education is a vital part of HIV prevention and is also critical to achieving Universal Access targets for reproductive health and HIV prevention, treatment, care and support (UNAIDS, 2006).

About the eForum

Supported by the Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS (GYCA), the eForum will engage youth and experts from the east and southern Africa region to stimulate lively exchange and constructive dialogue on this important topic. The discussion will focus on the following sub-themes:

• Comprehensive sexuality education and its relevance to adolescent SRH and HIV prevention
• Challenges of addressing adolescent SRH and HIV prevention in comprehensive sexuality education
• Successes in addressing adolescent SRH and HIV prevention in comprehensive sexuality education

The eForum discussion is aimed at the RIATT-ESA partners and external stakeholders involved in child and youth focused HIV programming in the east and southern Africa region. These include local, regional and national implementing partners (CSO and government), policy-makers, academics, donors.

To join the discussion, please register at join-riatt-esa@eforums.healthdev.org.