The national consultation is part of a process that will lead to regional High-level commitment for healthy, striving, and empowered adolescents and young people in West and Central Africa.
Ndeye Rose Sarr, the UNFPA Country Representative spoke of the need for young people and adolescents’ right to the correct sex education to empower them. The Comprehensive Sexuality Education protects and advocates for Youth Health, wellbeing and dignity by providing them with the necessary knowledge, attitude and skills.
UNFPA in partnership with the Ministry of Education develop a comprehensive health education program in line with the International Technical Guidance to Sexuality Education as part of the national curriculum.
A comprehensive data analysis presented by Xavier Hospital regional HIV and health adviser at the UNESCO office in Dakar shows the gender disparity in what every young girl and boy should be entitled to in transitioning to adulthood.
The project seeks to address the lack of sex education amongst young people and adolescents by providing them with comprehensive education and information. The program also seeks to empower young people to be free from Sexual and gender-based violence, FMG, Child marriage, which were amongst the other topics discussed at the forum.
Recommendations from this national consultation will inform the drafting of ministerial commitments and the rolling-out of the Education-Plus initiative in The Gambia.
Stakeholders such as activists, health educators, regional authorities, parents, technical experts, and students were in attendance.