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Sexual Rights e-News - June 2009
Sexual Rights Centre
June 26, 2009

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SRC develops a Sexuality Education Curriculum

The Sexual Rights Centre (SRC) is developing a Sexuality Education Curriculum that will be used by schools to address sexual rights with young people in Zimbabwe.

The organisation will work with Foundation College, Speciss College, Dominican Convent School and St. Gabriel's Education Centre during the pilot phase. The SRC hopes to lobby the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture to adopt the Sexuality Education Curriculum so that it can be used by other schools nationwide.

Meanwhile, a team of five experts in the fields of reproductive and sexual health, sexual violence, are working closely with the SRC programme staff to develop the content of the curriculum. The goal is to develop lesson plans that use participatory learning action tools to reach young people in an innovative and participatory way.

SRC believes that talking about sexuality in a human rights context will enable young people to deal with issues such as pregnancy, STIs including HIV/AIDS, abuse and rape as well as reduce the stigma and shame surrounding sex and sexuality in Zimbabwe. We thank the Global Fund for Women for supporting this work.

Dialogue and debate as the Sexual Rights Centre raises awareness about sexual minorities

In Zimbabwe there is a culture of silence on the issue of sexual minorities. The previous Zimbabwean leadership took a very homophobic stance on the issue. However, the Sexual Rights Centre believes that the time has come for the leadership and society to acknowledge the importance of human rights for every Zimbabwean, regardless of their sexual orientation. The Sexual Rights Centre has initiated a series of local-level awareness raising workshops to stimulate dialogue and awareness on this issue.

SRC participated in a workshop hosted by the College for Primary Physicians on challenges faced by members from the LGBTI community in Bulawayo. The workshop was also attended by members from the LGBTI community.

SRC made a presentation on stigma and discrimination experienced by the LGBTI from medical practitioners. The presentation touched on the importance of human rights, ethical behaviour and the personal experiences of members of the LGBTI community. Several doctors commented that they had never had to deal with this issue. However, as the Sexual Rights Centre emphasised it was important for doctors to create a safe and confidential environment that was conducive to patients disclosing their sexual orientation if they chose to. The presentation was well received and more information was requested from the Sexual Rights Centre.

The SRC also conducted a session on LBGTI issues to 15 counsellors at Contact Family Counselling Centre. Some of the counsellors had dealt with clients who were gay or lesbian. However, some explained that although they had dealt with the issue they found it challenging and felt it was against their personal beliefs. The emphasis of the session was therefore on the importance of maintaining professionalism and not allowing personal attitudes to affect the way you deal with clients. Some counsellors had referred clients to GALZ, but people were often reluctant and reticent and preferred to deal with the issue in their own way.

The SRC will conduct a follow-up sessions later in the year.

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