Oxfam Pilipinas, together with the Office of Senator Risa Hontiveros, various civil society organizations, and child rights advocates, strongly supports the passage of the Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy Bill and the implementation of Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE).
The Comprehensive Sexuality Education, as mandated by the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health (RPRH) Law, equips young people with medically accurate and age-appropriate knowledge to make informed choices about their bodies, rights, and relationships. CSE is part of the United Nation’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and is grounded in universal human rights, including the right to education, information, and health.
CSE and the Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy (PAP) Bill are vital to preventing unintended pregnancies, which often disrupt young people’s access to education, economic opportunities, and overall well-being. These measures aim to empower young people with the appropriate information, knowledge, and resources to lead healthy, productive, and fulfilling lives.
There should be no room for misinformation on vital policies and services surrounding sexual and reproductive health and rights. Accurate, factual information must be accessible to young Filipinos so they can make informed, responsible and safe decisions and choices.
Key Facts about the Comprehensive Sexuality Education and the Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy Bill:
- CSE is age-appropriate and holistic
Aligned with the RPRH Law, Comprehensive Sexuality Education delivers age-and development-appropriate and information on reproductive health. Contrary to claims, neither the RPRH Law nor the PAP Bill includes content for children aged 0-4 on topics such as oral or anal sex and masturbation. - PAP Bill aims to prevent adolescent pregnancies
The Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy Bill is a critical measure to prevent unintended pregnancies by equipping adolescents with accurate, science-backed information,expanded access to contraception, and comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education. - CSE is grounded in the RPRH Law
CSE is implemented through a curriculum developed by the Department of Education based on the RPRH Law. Neither the RPRH Law nor the PAP Bill refers to the “Standards for Sexuality Education in Europe.” - CSE requires parental involvement.
While CSE is taught in schools, the active involvement of parents is still required. The PAP Bill includes provisions that highlight the rights, duties, and responsibilities of parents and legal guardians in guiding their adolescents’ sexual and reproductive education. Parents and guardians are encouraged to offer support and guidance in a manner that aligns with the adolescent’s developmental stage.
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