NO - Anne Weyman, chief executive, fpa
Publicly funded education programmes should not promote differentinformation to young people according to their faith. Sex andrelationships education can be adapted to take faith issues intoaccount, but this should be the role of the individual school, not thestate. Abstinence programmes leave young people vulnerable to unplannedpregnancy by telling them that contraception doesn't work. Stigmatisingsex does not support young people and research shows abstinenceprogrammes are not effective.
NO - Jan Barlow, chief executive, Brook
Abstinence education denies young people the information they need.Studies in the US show that those who take a virginity pledge delaysexual activity for only a little longer than their peers, and when theydo become sexually active they are less likely to use contraception andjust as likely to catch a sexually transmitted infection. Sex andrelationships education should equip young people with the facts. Itshould also present not having sex as a realistic option and help youngpeople to resist pressure.
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