LIFE, the national caring and educational charity, is concerned by the FPA’s sexual health awareness week.
LIFE spokeswoman Rachel Heath said: “It is disingenuous of the FPA to present condom promotion as the panacea for STIs and unplanned pregnancy. The evidence, both statistical and practical, is mixed at best.
Recent research carried out by Professor David Paton (Nottingham University) has suggested that providing contraceptive safety nets to young people may even exacerbate the problem by creating a false sense of security about pregnancy and STIs.
While one applauds concern with prioritising the improvement of Britain’s sexual health, giving young teens the green light to engage in premature sex threatens their physical and emotional well-being.
We know that teenagers engage in risky behaviour. If it’s messing around on roads or taking drugs we teach them not to as it’s bad for them. But when it comes to sex we do exactly the opposite by throwing condoms at the problem. Most parents understand that under-age sex is not a good thing. Yet this common sense approach is being undermined by those who want to profit from young people’s ignorance and risky behaviour. Condoms do not give protection from all STIs and often fail when used by teens. Early sex can also lead to broken hearts and troubled youngsters. Giving thirteen year olds the green light to have sex, instead of helping them to say ‘no’, is sick and irresponsible. LIFE Education is incredibly popular with students for spreading a positive message that sex is special and should be treated that way: saved sex may be a challenge for young people but through taking it up they can live a life free from STIs and heartbreak.
ENDS
Press Release - 9 August 2006