Roundup: UN Confirms Commitment to Sexual Health Education

The United Nations Population Fund reaffirms its commitment to finalizing international sexual education guidelines; efforts to correct misinformation campaign in health reform debates continue.

International Sexual Health Guidelines

UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, today "reaffirmed its support for comprehensive sexuality education as an essential component of efforts to protect the health and rights of young people."

International sexuality education guidelines under development by UNESCO and intended to help guide sex education efforts in countries throughout the world, came under fire from members of the far right in the United States and elsewhere who, generally speaking, are against sexual health education per se. 

A story in the New York Times last week erronesouly reported that the guidelines were complete and to be released in final form at a meeting in England.  Others than reported that UNESCO held back on the release due to criticism from the right.  None of these were accurate.

According to the Sexuality Information and Education Council (SIECUS)



the "New
York Times
made a number of misrepresentations regarding the
publication of the International
Guidelines on Sexuality Education: An Evidence Informed Approach to Effective
Sex, Relationships, and HIV/STI Education
by the United Nation’s
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO)."




First, said SIECUS,

the story vastly overstated the extent of criticism directed
at this ground-breaking document, quoting an extreme, right-wing organization
as well as an obscure local organization in the state of Maryland in the United
States as sources of this disapproval. 
The latter organization was formed to address a very local issue and does
not represent a significant or noteworthy constituency.  The other is a fully discredited extremist
organization whose theories on population are best suited for science-fiction
novels, not the pages of the New York
Times
.

 

The article also "vastly
underestimates the support for this important publication among agencies of the
United Nations system.  There are
on-going discussions and processes working themselves through the UN system.  We have every confidence that at the
end of the day, the International
Guidelines on Sexuality Education
and the implementation of comprehensive
sex education will be fully supported by all UN agencies whose mandates guide
them to promote adolescent health," said a statement by SIECUS.

Calls on UNFPA to clarify its support for these guidelines were answered by a statement on the UNFPA website that states:

 

“We are mandated by the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) to provide support to governments to protect and promote the rights of adolescents to reproductive health education, information and care,” stated Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, UNFPA’s Executive Director. “We have been supporting national efforts to improve sexual and reproductive health education and services for young people for decades and we will continue to do so.”

 

LA Times Clarifies "health reform bills do not fund abortions."

As the health care debate rages on, the LA Times joins other newspapers of note in attempting to set the record straight on abortion care as part of health reform.  

Since the Supreme Court’s ruling in Roe vs. Wade,
every federal health insurance program has become enmeshed in the
debate over federal funding for abortion. This year’s efforts to reform
the healthcare system have triggered a new tussle, with opponents of
abortion claiming that the proposals would change the long-standing
policy against using federal tax dollars to terminate pregnancies. But
the provision that antiabortion groups find so objectionable
would actually have the opposite effect, forcing private insurers to go
further to fund and account for abortion coverage separately from
federally subsidized services.

SEPTEMBER 3

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SEPTEMBER 4

Feministing: September Events Round-Up Being Is Good

Feminists for Choice: Dutch Abortion Boat Runs Aground

Kansas City Star: (Letter) Performing abortions doctor’s ‘mission’?

Feminists for Choice: Access to Abortion: Silent Threats and Shady State Deals

CP: Adoption agency could be out of bankruptcy next month, family group says

CBS News: What Would Jesus Insure?

U.S. News & World Report: Third Way: Healthcare Bill Would Reduce Abortion

LifeNews: UNFPA Drops Name From UNESCO Sex-Ed Guide Pushing Abortion on Children <>

Science Blogs: Catholic Foreplay

Merced Sun Star: Abortion funding makes a point, reveals convictions

Montana Kaimin: Caught in the Act – Plan B: Cheaper than daycare

LifeNews: Another Election Expert Predicts Massive Pro-Life Gains in 2010 Election Cycle

CBS Montana: Montana AG approves language for abortion restriction initiative

The Sikh Times: Affordable Contraception Is Unobtainable For One In Four Young People Globally

Eagle Tribune: Letter: Abortion must be part of health care reform

CNS News: Boston’s Roman Catholic Cardinal Says He Confronted Obama about Abortion in Health Care Plan at Ted Kennedy’s Funeral

LA Times: Healthcare reform bill doesn’t cover elective abortion

Fox KPTM: Group Asks Attorney General to Investigate Abortion Clinic

SEPTEMBER 5

Catholic News Agency: Despite disavowal of radical sex ed guide, UNFPA continues activist training

BBC News: Sexual health guide for teenagers

Examiner: New study: Birth control pills increase risk of Lupus 

Mercury News: Opinion: Health care ‘myths’ have some truth to them

Suffolk News Herald: Where to go from here

HuffPo: Abortion, Health Care and the Soul

HuffPo: We Believe in Health Care Reform

Examiner: Common birth control pill causes abortion


SEPTEMBER 6

Voices Carry: More dialog with Scott Munsterman on abortion

Dallas News: Texas has restrictive birth control policy for minors

District Chronicles: Obama continues to debunk healthcare reform myths

The Age: Why women delay having kids: cost, jobs

The Bulletin: Birth Control Pill At 40

Missoulian: Include women’s health needs

Salt Lake Tribune: Rolly: Bennett may be learning how President Obama feels

NJ.com: (Letter) Have Church oust ‘pro-choice’ pols

Dallas News: Hutchison urges Texas GOP to open doors wider

Boston Globe: In blog, Schilling weighs in on hot-button topics

Boston Globe: Birth control battle in Revere <>

Boston Globe: Wisconsin bishop defends church’s handling of Kennedy funeral

Brisbane Times: Fertility not affected after taking oral contraceptive pill

WaPo: Deeds Needs to Look Beyond Thesis, Seize A Key Issue

The New Nation: Char people unaware of family planning

SEPTEMBER 7

Commercial Appeal: Kathleen Parker: Abortion foes gear up for health care battl

OpEd News: "Keep It Closed Campaign" Against Abortion Clinic Falters

Catholic News Agency: New service to help property owners bar abortions from their land – forever

LifeNews: British Pro-Life Leader Tells SPUC Conference: More Abortion Than War Deaths

LifeNews: Senate Must Deal With Obama’s Pro-Abortion Nominations After Summer Recess

Christian Post: Health Care Bill Would Reduce Abortion, Says Progressive Think Tank


Nursing in Practice: Contraception confusion exposed

LifeNews: Senate Will Soon Consider Abortion Funding in DC, for Federal Employees

LifeNews: Indiana Planned Parenthood Closes Five Centers After Hiding Abortion-Sex Abuse

LifeNews: Life Chain Will Present Pro-Woman, Pro-Life Message to Millions in October

Reuters: "Abortion pill" hasn’t broadened abortion access


Feminists for Choice: Parental Consent Law May Be on Alaska Ballot
Examiner:  Teen pregnancy 2009: Up or down?

OneNewsNow: Pro-life students urged to respond to Obama’s speech

Seattle Times: Yakima-based women’s clinic marks 30th year

Jamaica Observer: 61% OF RESPONDENTS SAY ABORTION ISSUE IMPORTANT

Houston Chronicle: Parenting between classes

ABC News Australia: More support for young mums urged

SEPTEMBER 8

Omaha World-Herald: Midlands Voices: Anti-abortion rallies are about saving lives, helping mother

OneNewsNow: Victory at an abortion clinic

Delmarva NOW!: (Letter) Lack of restriction adds up to abortion mandate

The Union: The path to adoption

Guardian: Abortion ad rules review delayed

Globe and Mail: Families asked to put up more money to revive adoption agency

Island Packet: (Letter) Homages to Kennedy hurts pro-life movemen

UNO Gateway: Debate on abortion rights hits close to home

Boston Globe: Kennedy must account for abortion stance