[DRAFT] On Sexual Education

[Railana]

An alternative to Eireann Fae's rather overbearing Sexual Education Act.

On Sexual Education
Category: Education and Creativity | Area of Effect: Educational

Recognizing that it is important that individuals be educated about the risks and consequences of engaging in sexual intercourse, as well as related topics,

Believing, however, that sexual education is largely a national matter, and that extensive World Assembly legislation on the subject would be inappropriate,

Seeking, therefore, to establish a baseline for sexual education in member states while allowing member nations flexibility in implementing their respective sexual edication programs,

The General Assembly,

1. Requires member nations to implement a sexual education curriculum in their respective public educational systems, to be taught to children at some point before they reach sexual maturity;
2. Specifies that the aforementioned curriculum must cover, at a minimum:
   
   1. the nature of, causes of, risks associated with, consequences of, methods of prevention of, and any legal rights and obligations associated with sexual intercourse, pregnancy, and sexually transmitted diseases, and
   2. the fundamentals of sexual anatomy, and how the subject relates to sexual intercourse, pregnancy, and sexually transmitted diseases;
3. Further requires that member nations take appropriate steps to ensure that the aforementioned sexual education curriculum, or one that is substantially similar, is implemented by all private educational institutions and homeschoolers, as necessary;
4. Prohibits member nations from restricting access to medical and scientific information regarding sexual intercourse, pregnancy, and sexually transmitted diseases,
5. Permits member nations to freely regulate sexual education within their jurisdiction, subject only to the provisions of this and previous World Assembly resolutions.

[Snefaldia]

Risk, consequences, and benefits of sexual intercourse, wink wink nudge nudge say no more say no more eh?

Wemiya Tarku
Charge d'Affaires

[Railana]

Risk, consequences, and benefits of sexual intercourse, wink wink nudge nudge say no more say no more eh?

Wemiya Tarku
Charge d'Affaires

We believe that is one topic for which there is little need for instruction.

Joseph Fulton
Chief Ambassador, Railanan Mission to the World Assembly

[Frustrated Franciscans]

We find this resolution to be most reasonable. I am sure that members will make other suggestions to tweak this in various ways; hopefully those tweaks will continue to make it reasonable.

[Bears Armed]

Further requires that member nations refrain from restricting access to medical and scientific information regarding sexual intercourse, pregnancy, and sexually transmitted diseases

OOC: So if somebody discovers how to "weaponise" such a disease, member nations would be barred from trying to limit access to that information?

[Mosktopia]

Further requires that member nations refrain from restricting...

Mosktopia has yet to form an opinion as to the merits of this, but our Society of Crotchety Grammarians wonders if we can do better than this double negative. Surely "Prohibits member nations from restricting" has a certain ring to it, no?

[Defwa]

How is this less overbearing than Eireann Fae's, Auralia?
The parts it backs off on make it almost dangerous.

Except for the fact that it allows private educational institutions immunity and thus means those children don't get proper education, it allows governments to ban local teaching which can prevent family units and other small organizations from teaching abstinence or sexual responsibility as they see fit. It allows governments to falsify the information given which could be tantamount to banning certain acts.

[Mosktopia]

Yes, we should remember not to take anything proposed by Auralia (or its obvious puppets) at face value.

Requires member nations to implement a sexual education curriculum in their respective public educational systems, to be taught to children at some point before they reach sexual maturity;

Is there a reason why we are limiting this to "public" educational systems rather than just "educational systems" in general? It seems to us that if "it is important that individuals be educated about the risks and consequences of engaging in sexual intercourse" then individuals in both public and private school systems should have that education.

The only reason we can think of for singling out "public" schools is to allow private schools (religious private schools, in particular) to avoid providing sex education.

Specifies that the aforementioned curriculum must cover, at a minimum, the nature, causes, risks, consequences, and applicable methods of prevention for sexual intercourse, pregnancy, and sexually transmitted diseases;

Shouldn't sexual anatomy and reproductive rights also be mandatory?

We don't trust this delegation with the term "applicable methods of prevention." "Applicable" to what, exactly? Simply "methods of prevention" would be preferable so that, for example, weaselly fundamentalist nations would not be able to get away with teaching abstinence-only sex education on the grounds that, according to the deity, only abstinence is a "relevant or appropriate" method of preventing pregnancy.

While we're at it, an explicit mandate to teach prophylactic contraception, family planning, birth control, and safe sex would be appropriate in any proposal on sex education.

Come to think of it, we simply prefer Eireann Fae's much more appealing approach of review by a neutral WA committee to the ham-fisted delineation of topics favored by this proposal.

Good day.

[Normlpeople]

"I am afraid I must continue to support the Fae proposal, as this one is sorely lacking. I disagree, as I have said, that the WA doesn't have the responsibility to teach proper sexual education, considering the liberal attitude it has taken with regards to sexual conduct it allows (And has legislated on) within its member nations. As it stands, nations without public education systems (such as private or religious education) would be exempt from this.

The Fae proposal also uses a neutral committee to instruct a relevant curriculum. There is a loophole in the wording that would simply allow one to stand at the front of a room and declare that remaining chaste is the way to avoid these horrible fates, and be compliant. Given some of the delegations here, they would do just that. Unless there is some serious change, I cannot support this."

OOC: Slow down... 10 drafts on the go is a bit much.

[Railana]

Further requires that member nations refrain from restricting access to medical and scientific information regarding sexual intercourse, pregnancy, and sexually transmitted diseases

OOC: So if somebody discovers how to "weaponise" such a disease, member nations would be barred from trying to limit access to that information?

((OOC: That certainly was not the intent. I'll see if I can edit that clause to eliminate that possibility.))

Further requires that member nations refrain from restricting...

Mosktopia has yet to form an opinion as to the merits of this, but our Society of Crotchety Grammarians wonders if we can do better than this double negative. Surely "Prohibits member nations from restricting" has a certain ring to it, no?

Very true. We will make the appropriate change.

How is this less overbearing than Eireann Fae's, Auralia?
The parts it backs off on make it almost dangerous.

Except for the fact that it allows private educational institutions immunity and thus means those children don't get proper education, it allows governments to ban local teaching which can prevent family units and other small organizations from teaching abstinence or sexual responsibility as they see fit. It allows governments to falsify the information given which could be tantamount to banning certain acts.

((OOC: Well, for one, it doesn't assign responsibility for sexual education to an unaccountable international organization.

I'll add a requirement that private educational institutions and homeschoolers implement a sexual education curriculum. Whether or not national governments choose to ban other forms of sexual education than that which is required by this proposal is none of the World Assembly's concern. In addition, this proposal does not permit the falsification of information as part of the mandated sexual education curriculum; it also prohibits member nations from restricting access to sexual education information.))

Yes, we should remember not to take anything proposed by Auralia (or its obvious puppets) at face value.

((OOC: Auralia and Railana are different nations. Please respect the difference, at least IC.))

Is there a reason why we are limiting this to "public" educational systems rather than just "educational systems" in general? It seems to us that if "it is important that individuals be educated about the risks and consequences of engaging in sexual intercourse" then individuals in both public and private school systems should have that education.

((OOC: That is true, and we will make an appropriate change.))

Shouldn't sexual anatomy and reproductive rights also be mandatory?

((OOC: Sexual anatomy, yes. However, I think that "legal rights and obligations with respect to pregnancy and sexual intercourse" would be more appropriate than "reproductive rights".

We don't trust this delegation with the term "applicable methods of prevention." "Applicable" to what, exactly? Simply "methods of prevention" would be preferable so that, for example, weaselly fundamentalist nations would not be able to get away with teaching abstinence-only sex education on the grounds that, according to the deity, only abstinence is a "relevant or appropriate" method of preventing pregnancy.

((OOC: It may also be the most effective means of preventing pregnancy, given a particular nation's cultural traditions. However, we will change "applicable methods of prevention" to "methods of prevention", as we do not believe there is any real difference between the two.))

As it stands, nations without public education systems (such as private or religious education) would be exempt from this.

As I stated earlier, I will make an appropriate change to resolve this issue.

The Fae proposal also uses a neutral committee to instruct a relevant curriculum.

Come to think of it, we simply prefer Eireann Fae's much more appealing approach of review by a neutral WA committee to the ham-fisted delineation of topics favored by this proposal.

((OOC: Simply stating that a committee must be "neutral" does not automatically make it so.))

There is a loophole in the wording that would simply allow one to stand at the front of a room and declare that remaining chaste is the way to avoid these horrible fates, and be compliant.

It is true that abstinence-focused sexual education would meet the requirements of this proposal. In our view, that is a feature, not a failing. We recognize that cultural differences between member nations make abstinence-focused sexual education more effective in some member nations than others, and member nations should be free to choose the most appropriate curriculum for their citizens.

Joseph Fulton
Chief Ambassador, Railanan Mission to the World Assembly

[Fendon]

Certainly a reasonable resolution. I'm concerned with Clause 4 at the moment, where "medical" and "scientific" isn't defined or clarified. This could be interpreted as prohibiting Member Nations from banning certain sexually explicit content. Pornography, for example, in our opinion should be limited to a certain age in our nation, but with this resolution, it may be deemed as "scientific". Clarification is needed in my opinion.

[Rotwood]

Felicia looks over the proposal, looks over the debate, does her research, then shakes her head
"Auralia's puppet, hey. I'm sorry, but we support Eireann Fae's over this one, and this additional information reinforces our position. Nay."

[Brilliant Equestria]

It is true that abstinence-focused sexual education would meet the requirements of this proposal. In our view, that is a feature, not a failing. We recognize that cultural differences between member nations make abstinence-focused sexual education more effective in some member nations than others, and member nations should be free to choose the most appropriate curriculum for their citizens.

"And... the true purpose of this proposal becomes clear. Culture is no excuse for ignorance. We will be supporting the Fae version and opposing this one, should it come to vote".

((OOC: Simply stating that a committee must be "neutral" does not automatically make it so.))

OOC: Considering all committees are staffed by WA gnomes, which have been established as being all-power and omniscient? Yes, it really does.

[Frustrated Franciscans]

Given recent revelations, we cannot support this resolution. We take back all previous support we had for the proposal and the proposal's author.

[Sciongrad]

Given recent revelations, we cannot support this resolution. We take back all previous support we had for the proposal and the proposal's author.

OOC: You're free to vote against a resolution for any reason you want - that's you're right, of course - but it's a little bit tactless to vote against a resolution based solely on the author, don't you think?

[Frustrated Franciscans]

Actually, we are applying the arguments against this resolution against the other one as well. The author problem is that the good faith in terms of the resolution cannot be trusted.

The preface and actions are at diametric odds with each other, the former says that the issue is "is largely a national matter" while the later forces a one sized fits all curriculum to every possible avenue of education for children, no matter what socioeconomic conditions are present in the specific nation.

More importantly, I fear that the whole subject of "sexual anatomy" may be grossly oversimplified to promote a specific moral and political agenda.

[The Eternal Kawaii]

We see no more reason to support this draft than the one Eireann Fae is proposing. Both are needless WA meddling in affairs it is not competent to address.

[Chester Pearson]

We see no more reason to support this draft than the one Eireann Fae is proposing. Both are needless WA meddling in affairs it is not competent to address.

We concur with The Cute One on both accounts....

Warmest regards,