Sex education

                SEX EDUCATION IN INDIA

Isn’t it ironic? A nation which was first among others to publish “kamsutra”- a book on sex, still shies away from openly discussing it? In the land of Khujaroa Sex Temples, sex still remains a matter to be discussed inside the closed doors? Sex often features in the role of an antagonist, at least until a magical switch is flipped on the day you say I Do. Thereafter, it suddenly features in the lead role.

Sex is a natural part of a life cycle and it is imperative that when questions regarding it arise, it should be discussed in a mature way without condoning it. This is where Sex Education comes to play. It is about learning how we grow, reproduce and change over the years. Sex education deals with teaching an individual about his/her sexuality, the kind of biological changes a human being undergoes during adolescence, and methods to tackle his or her emotions during this critical period of life.

However, people, sometimes even the well-read urban kind, often attach a whole lot of sensitivity to the topic of sex. Naturally, sexual education is also met with the highest resistance possible. It is surprising that in a Country where the Right to Educations is elevated to the status of Fundamental Right, and where the students are instructed to strictly follow each sentence of the book, when it comes to the topic of “Human Reproduction”, the same students are asked to close the books and skip the chapters.

INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE TO SEX EDUCATION:

At the International front, it was understood earlier that for the adolescents and the youth to be able to freely make informed decisions on all matters concerning their sexuality and reproduction, they require comprehensive education on sexuality. In fact, a study conducted by UNESCO reveals that such knowledge is necessary to prevent HIV and lead healthy and fulfilling lives.

Major International conventions and legal instruments, to which India is also a signatory, have strongly, advocated the right to sexuality education as one of the important human rights. The Cairo Declaration, for instance, was the first and most comprehensive international document to embody concepts of reproductive and sexual health and rights. Apart from it, the Convention on Rights of the Child, the CEDAW Convention and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights specifically recommends that sexuality education be “widely promoted” and “targeted” at adolescent girls and boys. It also recognizes the obligation of the governments to provide sexuality education and information. Therefore, India has an International obligation to provide compulsory sex education to its adolescent minds.

The need for sexuality education has been expressed from time to time some researchers. Though the Government of India has time and again advocated the importance of Sexual Education, it was often met with severe backlash and resistance from major parts of the society. It was a pleasant surprise when the Government introduced the Adolescent Education Program (AEP) in association with the National AIDS Control Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund. However, in a shocking move, 12 States refused to adopt the policy.

Contrary to the popular myth, the right to sexuality education is enshrined in the Indian constitution itself. Reading Article 21, 21-A and 45 together, it can be interpreted as covering the right to sexuality education. However, the Apex Court, which is often called the sentinel of justice also refused to acknowledge Sex Education as a Fundamental right on the same footing as the right to education.

It is laudable that despite being met with resistance, the Government has undertaken various other initiatives in the recent years to deal with the ignorance surrounding sex. For instance, in 2014, the National Adolescent Health Programme was started and aimed to establish health clinics for adolescents in villages. In 2017, the Union Health Ministry distributed a progressive and holistic resource manual to adolescent health educators. And in 2018, the Modi government launched a new health programme for schools that outlined novel ways in which sex education can be imparted to younger kids.

We live in a world where menstrual cycle is still referred to as “those days of the month”. In such a situation, the question remains whether we have progressed enough to freely discuss about such taboo topics without any fear or apprehension. Unfortunately, sex education in most schools is limited to the education of sex in reptiles and animals like toads. But the fact remains that whether we like it or not, teenagers do indulge in sex, most of them without complete knowledge, and unless they are educated about the repercussions of their acts, there will be adverse consequences. Ergo, it cannot be stressed enough that there is an urgent need for the government to be far more vocal about these initiatives and not shy away behind the veil of “culture”.