The ICPD call for action has captured the imagination of development thinkers around the world. Simultaneously, the emergence of gay and lesbian movements, new efforts to prevent sexual abuse, the international AIDS epidemic and the feminist theory have generated a significant amount of new research on human sexuality, focusing new attention on the ways in which gender and sexuality are shaped in different social and cultural settings, and on the complex interactions between sexuality, health and issues of social justice. By now, international community has recognized that addressing sexuality, sexual health and sexual rights are keys to achieve greater social change and social justice in the twenty first century. In this issue we highlight two major studies from Pakistan on ‘sexuality and young people’.
Research Summary: ‘Sexually Abused and Sexually Exploited Children and Youth in Pakistan - A qualitative assessment of their health needs and available services in selected provinces’ is a study published by United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. According to the study, child sexual abuse and commercial sexual exploitation of children exists in all provinces of Pakistan, although it remains hidden. Girls are more likely to be molested by family, acquaintances and neighbors whereas boys were more likely to be molested by teachers or total strangers. The age of first abuse for the largest group was 14 in about half of cases; a certain level of violence was used. Though not very visible in Pakistan, commercial sexual exploitation of children exists. Boy prostitution was much more visible. Female prostitutes traditionally can be found as dancing girls although many can also be found in private homes (76.5%). The family is the primary contributing factor in forcing 36.6% of the children into a life of prostitution and sexual exploitation. The children in the study had neither used condoms to protect themselves from HIV or STDs nor been tested for HIV or other STDs. The study has highlighted an urgent need to establish programs for recovery, psychosocial rehabilitation and reintegration of victims of child sexual abuse and exploitation. (Full text of the study is available at http://www.unescap.org/esid/hds/sexual/pakistan.pdf ).
Resources: Marie Stopes International has conducted a study of knowledge, attitudes, and practices of adolescents regarding sexuality and reproductive health in four districts of Pakistan. Topics discussed include puberty, sources and type of information, social norms and age of marriage. For full text: http://www.mariestopes.org.uk/pdf/Adolescence-in-Pakistan-int.pdf
News: The INFO Project at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health’s Center for Communication Programs has just released an online Injectables Toolkit to provide up-to-date and accurate information, guidance on best practices and resources and tools to help improve access to and quality of services: http://www.infoforhealth.org/injectables/
Events: Johns Hopkins University offers a new course titled Leadership in Strategic Health Communication: Making a Difference in Infectious Diseases, HIV/ AIDS and Reproductive Health from June 4 to June 22, 2007. Applications should be submitted by March 30, 2007. See details including potential funding sources at: http://www.jhuccp.org/training/Workshop/LSHC.shtml
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IPPF SARO Team