AWARE would like to respond to Mr. Geoffrey Yeoh's concerns (Today, May 25th 2007 – "Parents be Aware of film's message") about our support of the film "Spider Lily" and about our comprehensive sexuality programme.

Firstly Mr. Yeoh, thank you for your support of AWARE's goal of gender equality and your understanding and support of the work we do.

AWARE welcomes open discussion and debate on issues, such as the one Mr. Yeoh has raised. We believe that more openness leads to a better understanding of important issues and respect for individual choices.

AWARE embraces diversity and individual choices and our members are supportive of these goals. We are glad that the State is now more open to discussion of diversity. That films such as "Spider Lily" and "Brokeback Mountain" have been or are being screened in Singapore is a reflection of this more open, and thus more healthy, situation.

The AWARE Comprehensive Sexuality Education Programme draws on established international programmes. It was developed over the course of a year in consultation with parents, youth social workers, teachers, and academics from a range of institutions. As with all other AWARE programmes, it has been through a rigorous process of internal and external auditing and pilot testing. AWARE has run the programme at secondary and post secondary institutions and has received excellent feedback and requests for more sessions.

Young people need relevant information in order to protect their health and rights and those of others. Research shows that comprehensive sexuality education is effective in providing adolescents with the tools, the knowledge, the skills, the attitude and values to make responsible choices about their sexual health.

Our comprehensive sexuality education recognizes that sexuality is not just about sexual intercourse. In addition to providing accurate information, the AWARE programme encourages students to explore their own values and develop the communications skills and self-respect necessary for positive and healthy living. It aims to replace silence and shame with information and skills.

By bringing sexuality into the open, young people are more likely to make wise, realistic, and informed decisions. The programme will also equip teenagers with skills to resist peer pressure to have sex.

The Programme was developed to complement other programmes and offer opportunities for healthy discussion in society about relationships and human sexuality and because of the rising incidence of STI, teenage pregnancies and abortions.

Latest figures show that 678 of those aged between 10 and 19 sought help for STI in 2005 against 256 in 2001. In the 20 years between 1985 and 2004, 18 teens were diagnosed as HIV positive.

Ministry of Health figures for 2001 to 2005 show an average of around 1,500 teen abortions annually. In 2005 the exact figure was 1,279.

Nearly all of them were between 15 and 19 years old and unmarried.

This programme will have a dramatic impact on curbing the rise of STIs, and the number of unwanted pregnancies.

We recognize that Mr. Yeoh's concerns are based on the newspaper reports of our position and the movie. However, I would like to assure Mr. Yeoh that had he attended our comprehensive sexuality education programme he would be comforted to learn that the programme takes a holistic approach and encompasses a broad range of human experiences.

We are open to more discussions with Mr Yeoh and we would like to invite him to meet us and other like-minded readers. We will be happy to share with him more about the work we do and hope to engage in a constructive dialogue. 

CONSTANCE SINGAM
President
AWARE