UNFPA agrees to launch Formative Assessment of Comprehensive Sexuality Education

St Kitts and Nevis: The regional partners have concluded that the Caribbean region’s Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) should become better. The prior-mentioned findings were based on the Formative Assessment Report, virtually and in-person launched on March 7, that provides recommendations and identifies gaps in the Caribbean CSE through the Health and Family Life Education (HFLE) Curriculum.

According to the report, none Caribbean country provides offering what could be considered truly comprehensive sexuality education. The assessment was conducted by UNFPA Caribbean in collaboration with CARICOM, Academia and UN Agencies. It was conducted under the European Union (EU) funded Regional Spotlight Initiative, which aims to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls.

During the launch, UNFPA Caribbean Director – Alison Drayton notified that the assessment was timely as the environment for advancing HFLE has become less conducive due to progressive advocacy against sexuality education.

She further highlighted that age-appropriate sexuality education would assist in providing young people with the knowledge, skills and efficacy. The director further stated that sexuality education would raise awareness about unsafe sexual activity, which would reduce the same.

“I am hoping that the findings of the assessment will be used to strengthen regional and national capacities to advocate for and deliver quality, evidenced-based CSE for in and out-of-school youth in the Caribbean,” Drayton stated.

Along with Drayton, the speakers of the event were – Representative of the UN Women Multi-Country Office Caribbean – Ms Tonni-Ann Brodber, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Barbados – Ambassador Malgorzata Wasilewska, and CARICOM Assistant Secretary-General Dr Douglas Slater, who spoke on behalf of CARICOM Secretary-General – Dr Carla Barnett.

These latest findings will assist in strengthening the regional capacities to advocate for and deliver quality, evidenced-based CSE for in and out-of-school youth in the Caribbean. It will also contribute to assisting in informing the design of a regional CSE strategy for the education sector.

The launch event was conducted on the eve of International Women’s Day, marked under the theme – “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow.”