Comprehensive Sexuality Education in Nepal

A two-day conference, ‘Advancing Comprehensive Sexuality Education in Nepal’ jointly organized by the Ministry of Health and Population and the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology with UNFPA, FPAN and partners was launched on 24 May 2023, in Kathmandu. This is the first national conference on comprehensive sexuality education to be organized in Nepal and over the course of two days a broad range of issues will be discussed by public officials, experts and civil society.

Commenting on the conference the UNFPA Resident Representative, Young Hong explained:

“In attaining the sexual and reproductive health and rights of young people, comprehensive sexuality education is key. Investing in comprehensive sexuality education is not only an investment in a generation of young people who it is vital to ensure they complete their full education. It has overall positive outcomes for the whole of society and the economy as Nepal moves towards middle-income status.”

The conference closed with a commitment and declaration on the future of comprehensive sexuality education.

Considering the call made by the United Nations Special Report released in March 2023 to ensure Comprehensive Sexuality Education without discrimination, the Government of Nepal, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Ministry of Health and Population, and all organizations concerned express the following commitments and messages:

• Enhance coordination and collaboration among multi-stakeholders, including all provincial and local governments, schools, national and international organizations, youth and others concerned, to implement policy, legal and programmatic arrangements related to Comprehensive Sexuality Education;

• Taking Comprehensive Sexuality Education as a basic right of all adolescents and youth, guarantee quality education and ensure access to information on sexual and reproductive health and quality health services to the youth;

• Prevent child marriages and unwanted pregnancies and facilitate transition from adolescence to adulthood in a safe and mature manner by protecting all adolescents and youth from all forms of sexual and gender-based violence, harmful practices and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS;

• Develop Comprehensive Sexuality Education learning materials through online and offline teacher training and other support and engage adolescents, youth, communities, and parents in their effective use; and

• Encourage the exchange of the learning experiences and good practices of adolescents and the youth.