With the dawn’s embrace, we begin our day, cradling a cup of freshly brewed warmth, where the morning sun meets the steam of our first sip.
After tasting your morning coffee, ask yourself whether you are safe. Can we stay at home leisurely after sending our daughters to schools, when we remember the18-year-old Vithya who was gang-raped on May 13, 2015 in Jaffna? Can we raise our voices against the perpetrators who raped and murdered Moumita Debnath, forgetting that a 16-year-old girl was gang-raped by 22 schoolboys in Thanamalwila? How can we even leave our little ones at home when we remember that a four-year-old Seya Sadewmini was raped and murdered?
We can never erase those heart-breaking memories from our hearts and will have to live with those tearful memories. Do you think that it is easy for a girl to travel on a heavily crowded private bus without getting harassed?
Can a mother work at the office with a peaceful mind, when she remembers a 10-year-old Dilani Madusika Rajanayake raped by six people including her family members? Can a girl go out at night when she remembers tuk-tuk drivers who are harassing girls? How can a mother heave a sigh of relief after sending her daughter to a tuition class, when she remembers the news of a 15-year-old girl being raped by a 24-year-old tuition teacher?
Today, there is a situation where even 80-year-old women cannot escape the venomous stings of lust-thirsty rapists. A 45-year-old carpenter was arrested for raping an 80-year-old woman. Indeed, none of us are safe today.
Solution
Your home should be the pre-school for your children. Parents must instill virtues into their children’s minds from their childhood and guide them on the right path.
A father cannot ask his child not to take alcohol while taking gallons of arrack at parties. A mother cannot expect her daughters to be disciplined and well-mannered while gossiping and spreading incendiary rumours among relations and neighbours.
Teachers cannot punish their students while making blunders. Therefore, elders have to be ideal for children on every occasion. If not, needless to mention that children tend to go astray. Speaking of our education system, our country is renowned for providing the best education to children. But those at the helm of our country seem to have given a blind eye to the sex-education.
There are many advantages of proper sex-education. However, one should not misunderstand that sex-education is not an opportunity for anyone to release their stress.
Advantages of sex education
Comprehensive sex education provides accurate information about human anatomy, reproduction, and sexual health. This knowledge helps individuals make informed decisions regarding their bodies, relationships, and sexual activities.
Prevents Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and unplanned pregnancies
By teaching about contraception, safe sex practices, and the risks associated with unprotected sex, sex education can reduce the rates of STIs and unintended pregnancies.
Fosters healthy relationships
Sex education addresses topics like consent, communication, and respect in relationships. This helps individuals develop healthy, consensual, and respectful relationships, reducing instances of sexual violence and abuse.
Reduces sexual violence and exploitation:
Educating young people about boundaries, consent, and recognizing abusive behaviors can help prevent sexual violence and exploitation.
Supports emotional and mental health
Understanding the emotional aspects of sexuality, including issues related to identity, self-esteem, and peer pressure, helps individuals manage their feelings and relationships better, contributing to overall mental health.
Encourages inclusivity
Comprehensive sex education often includes discussions on sexual orientation, gender identity, and diversity, promoting inclusivity and reducing stigma around LGBTQ+ issues.
Empowers individuals
Sex education empowers individuals with the knowledge and skills they need to take control of their sexual health and well-being, promoting a sense of autonomy and confidence.
Addresses misinformation
With the abundance of misinformation available online, especially on social media, formal sex education provides a reliable source of accurate information.
It is evident that sex education is essential for fostering a well-informed, healthy, and respectful society, where individuals can make safe and responsible choices regarding their sexual health. Significantly, sex education serves as the key to a well-disciplined society without the dark shadows of rapists.
