"The "safe sex" message can create a false sense of security in youth and lead to an increase in risky behaviors."
Interdisciplinary experts of the ICS have elaborated the informative document 'The policy of the "Education Integral Sexuality"', in which they recommend programs "centered on abstinence".
"The 'safe sex' message can foster a false sense of security in youth and lead, paradoxically, to an increase in risky behaviors, such as starting sex at younger ages and having more sexual partners (a phenomenon known as "risk compensation")." This is one of the conclusions drawn from the informative document 'The policy of the "Education Integral Sexuality"', elaborated by interdisciplinary experts of project 'Education of Affectivity and Human Sexuality' (EASH) of the Institute for Culture and Society (ICS) of the University of Navarra.
From agreement with the authors, the danger of that message is that it "conveys the misconception among young people that sex is totally risk-free as long as they use condoms."
As they explain, these messages are fundamentally promoted by a set of influential, international organizations, global authorities and far-reaching associations that create and fund policy guidelines around the world to carry out their strategic priorities.
"Sometimes called 'best practices,' these priority interventions are presented as if they are neutral and objective, but their track record is often questionable." Thus, ICS specialists insist that "the data based programs of study and the more ideological issues should be distinguished and analyzed separately because each aspect justifies a different strategy or approach on discussion".
In this regard, those responsible for the document state that "some aspects of their documents are clearly debatable" and that "parents have the right to apply for the democratic and legal attendance to protect their children from the possible harm of some messages". "Parents should be train to educate their children according to their own values," they point out.
Scientific endorsement: the consensus of the prestigious journal The LancetIn contrast to the so-called "comprehensive" sexual Education programs promoted by these institutions, EASH experts value "abstinence-focused" programs: "They are based on scientific programs of study , are effective, less condescending to young people and rely on their ability to make free and optimal decisions".
They further emphasize that "they are the preferred choice of millions of parents, educators, researchers and youth around the world and can appropriately be defined as true 'holistic' sexual Education programs."
They recall that this is supported by the consensus of the prestigious scientific journal The Lancet: "It prioritizes messages calling for a postponement of sexual debut in youth or a return to abstinence for those who have casual sex. When choosing to have sex, the consensus prioritizes the message of mutual monogamy."
Another conclusion drawn from the document is that "publicly funded sexual Education programs should be tailored to the values of parents who should be able to freely choose or reject them for their children. This is the way resources that we all pay for should be allocated in a democratic society."
The authors of the briefing paper are Jokin de Irala, Full Professor de Preventive Medicine and Public Health e researcher principal of EASH; Alfonso Osorio, professor of the School of Education and PsychologyCristina Lopez del Burgo and Silvia Carlos, professors of the School of Medicineand Carlos Beltramo. All are members of the team of project of the ICS.
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