The simultaneous consideration of health and sexuality in the field of the social sphere begins in the 60s with the women's movement, family planning, the access to contraception in 1967, the law on the abortion in 1975. "Sexual information" appeared in secondary schools in the programs of biology further in the circular of 1973. In this context the new epidemic of the HIV appeared at the beginning of the 80s; young people constituted a privileged target.
Since, the modalities of intervention with young people evolved significantly from sexual information to a wider educational approach involving sexual health. The development of sexual education, engaged within the framework of an interministerial partnership of fight against AIDS, allowed an educational approach which considers significantly the imperatives of public health (prevention of AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases, unwanted pregnancies, sexual violence, addiction and collective ethics based on the notions of respect for the intimacy and autonomy.
For the young people considered as more vulnerable, the specific partnership with the department of legal protection of the youth, national council for the local missions, the hard-working youth clubs also integrates the problem of sexual education. Priority and a visibility were given to some dimensions in the health program of young people presented by the Ministry of Health in February 2008: Development of campaigns on contraception for the young people with a gender approach. Creation of a web site "sexuality / young people". Prevention of discriminations related to homophobia. Prevention of risktaking in connection with drug-use.
Conflict of Interest: None disclosed
Financial Support/Funding: None disclosed
Recorded at 19th WAS World Congress for Sexual Health - Sexual Health & Rights: A Global Challenge Göteborg (Sweden) - June 21 – 25, 2009
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