#KnowItOwnIt campaign - interview of Aino-Kaisa Pekonen
What is your experience of sexuality education? Embarrassing moments or inspiring and informative? A Member of Parliament Aino-Kaisa shares her own memories.
A Member of Parliament Aino-Kaisa Pekonen is worried about the quality of sexuality education of minorities but praises the Hurma magazine.
Do you think that the right of young people to get information about sexuality and sexual health is fulfilled today?
Not sufficiently. Minority groups, as sexual minorities and disabled persons, still face problems with quality sexual health services. Especially in more remoted areas. This cannot be so.
Is sexuality education still required these days, isn't all the information available online?
Comprehensive sexuality education is still needed yet it can also be provided through internet. The Hurma magazine is an excellent example of this. Sexuality education has to be professional and take diversity into account. And it cannot be concluded at the secondary school.
What is the significance of comprehensive sexuality education on a global scale?
Finland has a lot to offer for global sexuality education, we can provide training for countries where sexuality education is only starting to evolve or does not exist. Right to comprehensive sexuality education and safe sex life belongs to everyone. On a global scale especially abortion, contraception and family planning are important.
Does sexuality education in Finland require improvement?
Yes it does. In particular secondary schools should provide comprehensive sexuality education that also allows for sexual minorities. There has been too many stories of LBGTI persons and persons with disabilities that they have not been recognized. Everyone should have access to comprehensive sexuality education.
Are young people themselves able to influence the contents of sexuality education?
Young people can produce material as has been with the Hurma magazine. It is amazing forum and I believe it serves the purpose since it is made by young people for other young people. Keep on the good work!
Who has the responsibility to produce sexuality education?
At the very least everyone working with young people and workers of social and healthcare sectors, but also the parents.
Can you share your own memories of sexuality education?
Sexuality education classes were waited impatiently and when the time came our teacher was a bit embarrassed and the class was quickly over. Issues where handled routinely and we did not learn anything new that we hadn't known before. That is why it is important that comprehensive sexuality education is given by a person trained for it.
