Following RNW's recent report about the praise for Dutch sex education policy from Cuba's 'sex chief' Mariela Castro, International Cooperation Minister Ben Knapen gives his views on the subject and responds to Ms Castro's words of appreciation.
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"The Dutch approach to sex education has proved effective in the Netherlands. Mariela Castro refers to this model as a good export product and I am in complete agreement with her. It’s no coincidence that sexual health and sexual rights are one of the four themes central to our new development policy."
How can sex education policy be improved?
"The effects of Dutch policy are carefully scrutinised so the policy can be adapted if necessary. At the moment, for instance, we have noticed a decrease in condom use by young people and a corresponding increase in sexually transmitted diseases. This means we have to increase the emphasis on preventing STDs in our information."
What exactly is the message to be conveyed?
"In many countries there are still strong taboos about young people having sex, about homosexuality, about HIV/AIDS and the right of girls and women to make their own choices about sex. Taboos like these must be overcome if we are to eliminate problems like high mortality in childbirth, discrimination, AIDS and sexual violence."
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