"Tell Me More: Children's Rights and Sexuality in the Context of HIV/AIDS in Africa", a report that was recently published by Save the Children Sweden in collaboration with the Swedish Association for Sexuality Education (RFSU) found that young children are rarely targeted in work on HIV/AIDS prevention and sexual and reproductive health initiatives and they are rarely asked their opinions about the services they are provided.

The report outlines children's reflections on issues of sexuality and their coping mechanisms for preventing the transmission of HIV and AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. It documents children's opinions about the services and education they receive on sexuality and HIV and AIDS and also explores children's perspectives and strategies for dealing with sexuality and relationships in the face of HIV and AIDS.

"From the report, it is evident that children also have ideas to stop further spread of the virus, the most popular being involvement in school or recreational activities," says Mr Timothy Bainbridge, Save the Children Sweden's regional representative for southern Africa. "Children do not value just sexual education in schools as they perceive it to be too technical, moralistic and negative about sex. Children would like to know HOW they can protect themselves as many of them are already sexually active, rather than just focussing on the biological side of sex. At this stage, though, most children get their information about sexual and reproductive health rights from the media, although there is some debate as to the reliability of the information that is transmitted, This tells us that we are not really talking to our children," he added.

The report, which is based on a desk study of research conducted and published in the last 10 years in 13 African countries , highlighted that gender norms and societal pressure also encourage transactional and cross-generational sex, which are prevalent throughout Africa. The material was selected due to its focus on children aged 7-19 years including presentation of children's own perspectives.

"It is amazing how the children express their concerns about the sexual and reproductive health services available to them from either the government or any other players in the health sector. From the research, they are calling for improved confidentiality, lower costs, and easier access to these services," says Miss Velephi Riba, the Save the Children Sweden's Regional Programme Officer for Child Protection and HIV and AIDS in southern Africa. "Children actually prefer getting information about sex and sexuality from younger people and from those who discuss sexuality in a positive, non-judgmental and realistic way," she added.

The report adds that sexuality education in schools and communities does not address issues that mainly concern children such as love, body image, relationships, identity and gender and how to negotiate safer sex and not fall into society's pressures on their sexual behaviours such as boys having multiple sexual partners while girls remain uninformed about sex and sexuality.

For more information please contact: Tapiwa Gomo: Regional Communications Officer, Save the Children Sweden: +27 82 8880341, +27 12430428 or email tapiwag@saf.savethechildren.se