[procaare] Re: Nigeria: National Abstinence Leadership Workshop 2006 (1-2)

["Marge Berer" <RHMjournal@compuserve.com>]

Re: Nigeria: National Abstinence Leadership Workshop 2006 (1-2)
- Marge Berer (1)
*********

[*Forum Moderator response follows below.*]

Dear Procaare,

I'm appalled and disappointed that you are giving international e-space to
an abstinence-only campaign in Nigeria when it is only comprehensive
sexuality and relationships education that has been shown to prevent and
reduce HIV transmission among young people. 

Abstinence alone does not help the high number of young people who are
having sex and who may be abstinent today but not tomorrow. Even the term
"abstinence" should be eschewed. Abstinent from what? Holding hands?
Kissing? Touching? Having a body? Having feelings? In puberty? 

There are a lot of young people who would prefer not to have sex who may be
feeling pressured by peers or older youth to do so against their will. They
should certainly be supported to express what they do and do not want and
to have the confidence to say no and stand firm. But for the young people
who do want to have sex, or who may want to next week or next month, the
whole notion of safer sex, that was universally accepted more than 15 years
ago, which has never been properly promoted among young people, is now
being deliberately sabotaged by a reactionary, anti-sex,
anti-contraception, anti-abortion, and most importantly in this context
anti-condom campaign that tells deliberate lies about condoms and  believes
ignorance among young people is better than information. Their messages and
campaigns are unethical and should be condemned. Where do you stand on
this? 

With best wishes,
Marge Berer, Editor
Reproductive Health Matters
London, UK
E-mail: RHMjournal@compuserve.com

- - - - - -

MODERATOR RESPONSE (2)

Dear Marge

Many thanks for your message and for expressing your viewpoint so clearly. ProCAARE is an eforum for 2000 people working and living all over the 
world and we respect the diversity of opinion and interests that members 
express. 

We understand the issues you describe and - if you note - on the same day, we also posted 2 other messages that specifically talked about condoms, sexuality education and women's empowerment as interventions that do work. We also feel strongly that there need to be information of as many options as possible for people to choose from in making decisions about protecting themselves.

Discussion and debate is important for moving the discussion further and we welcome your contribution and invite others to react as well...

Thanks for your participation, Marge - always appreciated.

regards
ProCAARE Moderator