MANILA, Philippines – The United Nations on Friday backed a move by the Philippines to introduce sex education among primary and high school students that has sparked a row with the influential Catholic church.
The UN stressed that the Philippines was a signatory to an international treaty on the rights of children that commits member countries to providing proper information to girls and boys about their bodies.
“It is the obligation of the state to ensure that all adolescent girls and boys are provided with accurate and appropriate information on how to protect their health and practice healthy behaviours,” the UN said in a statement.
“The United Nations will continue to work with government… to respect, fulfill and protect the rights of girls and boys to comprehensive information regarding their health and their bodies.
“Global evidence shows that giving clear, appropriate information to adolescents does not increase promiscuity but helps them make responsible decisions.”
The government this week began introducing its Adolescent Reproductive Health programme in 80 public elementary and 79 high schools.
The scheme will later be expanded nationwide, in what the government said could hopefully reduce the country’s high population growth rate, limit unwanted teenage pregnancies and prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS.
The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines attacked the programme, warning that it encouraged promiscuity among the youth.
The bishops demanded that the government stop the programme, saying that sex education was better left to parents and taught within the confines of the home.
The UN on Friday acknowledged that parents played a pivotal role in teaching their children about their sexuality, but noted that people in authority such as teachers or doctors could explain the process better.
The government has often locked horns with church leaders over population control issues in this devoutly Catholic nation of more than 90 million people.
In one instance, church leaders called for the sacking of the health secretary after she launched a campaign to hand out free condoms on Valentine’s Day this year as part of the battle against HIV and AIDS. –abs-cbnNEWS.com
July 2025
Nutrition Month
“Give us much more than P50 increase
for proper nutrition!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry recommendations
against serious violations of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association protocols.
Accept National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands #Distancing #TakePicturesVideosturesVideos
July
3 July – International Day of Cooperatives
3 July – International Plastic Bag Free Day
5 July – World Youth Skills Day
7 July – Global Forgiveness Day
11 July – World Population Day
17 July – World Day for International Justice
28 July – World Nature Conservation Day
30 July – World Day against Trafficking in Persons
Monthly Observances:
Schools Safety Month
Nutrition Month
National Disaster Consciousness Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 2: Cultural Communities Week
Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise
Development Week
Week 3: National Science and
Technology Week
National Disability Prevention and
Rehabilitation Week
July 1-7:
National Culture Consciousness Week
July 13-19:
Philippines Business Week
Week ending last Saturday of July:
Arbor Week
Daily Observances:
First Saturday of July:
International Cooperative Day
in the Philippines
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