The International Guidelines on Sexuality Education aim to give teachers across the world guidance on how children and young people can best protect themselves from coercion, abuse and exploitation, unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.
They include information on subjects that can be broached with different age groups but have come in for criticism for suggesting masturbation can be discussed with children from the age of five.
Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe is among those criticising the guidelines. "This is wholly inappropriate and is destroying parental responsibility," she told The Telegraph.
"It is parents who should determine the pace of revelation, not the authorities. What one child may be ready to learn about at the age of 10, another child may not be ready for until 13."
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