In dialogue of young people with religious scholars, youth have demanded timely information on sexual reproductive health and rights in educational institutes. The event was organised by Rahnuma Family Planning Association of Pakistan. Religious scholars including Professor Dr Izhar-ul-Islam, Dr Farooq Ahmed Khan and Koukab Shehzad spoke on the occasion.
They said: "This is sensitive topic for us but we should talk about CSE (comprehensive sexual education). We should give information and education according to Islam. CSE should be part of syllabus." In dialogue of young people with religious scholars, youth demanded their right to information about puberty/changes in body, reproductive health, and sexuality related issues; in absence of information about these issues, youth is prone to several of forms of violence, exploitation, abuse confusions, psychological issues and sometimes even leads to suicide attempts.
The messages, which strongly emerged and conveyed through the dialogue was 'we want timely information on sexual reproductive health and rights in education system', because youth issues are ignored and rarely discussed at family levels and their peers are equally ignorant.
It may be noted that the Rahnuma-FPAP, founded in 1953, is a pioneer organisation in the filed of Reproductive Health and Family Planning in Pakistan. The organisation is focusing on youth issue as one of its strategic objectives and empowering young people with information about their body, health and rights. The organisation also aims at soliciting support for advocacy for inclusion of the sexual reproductive health (SRH) and rights related information in education system.