Sexuality And Reproductive Health Education
Overview
The goal of this work is to improve access to comprehensive sexuality education for marginalized youth, especially girls.
The Challenge
Young people around the world initiate sexual activity earlier, marry later and are often victims of sexual violence. Despite these trends, many are denied access to information and support that could enable them to protect their own sexual and reproductive health in an environment free of fear, coercion or shame.
This is rendered more complex by the fact that the fastest pace of growth in numbers of young people is often in developing countries and disadvantaged communities where young people typically have the least access to information and support. Here, too, the consequences are dire: Young people ages 15 to 24 account for 40 percent of new HIV infections; nearly 13 million adolescents give birth each year; and sexual- and gender-based violence against youth is widespread.
What We're Doing
To address these challenges, we support school- and community-based programs and advocacy efforts that expand access to sexuality education, especially among marginalized youth. Working in partnership with key nonprofit organizations, funders and government agencies, these programs enable young people to access accurate information and provide a space for discussion of sexuality, gender roles, and sexual and reproductive health and their relationship to poverty and discrimination.
Learn more about how our strategies and approaches shape our grant making.
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