NGO: DepEd’s help needed to teach children consent
Over 30 percent of young people—males and females age 15 to 24—in the four regions the nongovernmental organization (NGO) Roots of Health works in believe “it is the wife’s duty to have sex with her husband whenever he wants it.”
Roots of Health believes in focusing on how to address this troubling mindset. It has been providing free sexual and reproductive health information and services to the people of Palawan for 15 years.
Its research shows that a significant percentage of first sexual encounters in the province are unplanned, and many are coerced.
The Young Fertility and Sexuality Study (YAFS5) by the University of the Philippines Population Institute and its own youth survey indicate that young people often turn to social media, family and friends for information on sex and relationships. Unfortunately, many older generations lack accurate knowledge themselves.
As an NGO committed to improving awareness and behavior around sexual health, Roots of Health uses digital platforms like malayaako.ph, and the I Choose and Usapang K Facebook pages, to reach young people with credible, non-judgmental information in the Tagalog language. Consent is one of our most viewed topics.
However, its efforts alone are not enough. Roots of Health needs the Department of Education (DepEd) to implement comprehensive sexuality education as mandated by the 2012 Reproductive Health Law and the 2018 DepEd memo. Teachers need proper training to confidently and effectively teach these essential topics.
August is International Youth Month. Young people must be made to understand that one should be coerced into sex, whether in a long-term relationship or not.
