Research from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show comprehensive sex education helps prevent pregnancy, HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections.
“Importantly, they found that many other programs helped young people delay initiation of sex and they found little evidence that these kind of comprehensive programs increased sexual activity among young people — something that many people fear,” said Dr. John Santalli, a pediatrician and professor of population and family health at Columbia University, citing the CDC study.
Women who receive comprehensive sexual education before college are half as likely to be raped in college, advocates said Thursday. The education will also change young people’s perspectives on the LGBTQ+ community and help them identify or understand their sexual orientation.
“We believe providing youth with skills that are based on mutual respect and affection will prevent violence,” said attorney Andrew Sta. Ana, director of legal services for Day One, an organization working to end youth dating abuse. “It will make them better equipped to understand themselves and each other.”