Comprehensive Sexuality Education

Belarus is a small country in eastern Europe with a small youth population, an aging overall population, and a low and decreasing fertility rate. About one-quarter of the people in Belarus are under the age of 25. The number of unintended pregnancies and abortions has declined in the past few decades. 

The HIV epidemic is in a concentrated stage meaning that it mainly affecting certain at-risk groups, such as the youth, rather than the general population. The country has recently seen declines in the annual number of newly diagnosed HIV cases; however, the prevalence of total HIV cases in the population continues to rise. About half of adolescents have correct knowledge of HIV prevention. The majority of HIV patients are between the ages of 15 and 29.  

Research on the reproductive behaviour of youth in Belarus shows that most young people in Belarus get their information on reproductive health from their friends and peers. Half of adolescents lack knowledge about reproductive health. As a result, around half of the cases of all those surveyed, the first sexual experience occurs without the use of contraceptives. About half of women use modern contraceptives. 

Components of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) are integrated into the education system and a majority of secondary schools report life skills-based HIV-related curricula have been implemented. However, the sexuality education information that has been provided is not comprehensive and has not been implemented in all schools. As of 2023, there is no official sexuality education programme at schools. Recent developments have led to changes in focus and shifts to stress ideology and ‘traditional’ family values. Few opportunities for sexuality education are available apart from some programmes provided by faith-based organizations and abstinence-based courses.

A definition for comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) or any other related terms could not be found. Components of CSE can be found in physical culture and health courses.

The 1994 Constitution of Belarus states that women are equal to men in accessing education and vocational training as well as the necessary means for safeguarding their health and working conditions. Citizens are guaranteed free education and health care. The Constitution also guarantees the spiritual, moral and physical development of young people. 

According to the 2011 Code of Education, educational outcomes should include developing the appropriate values and skills for people to conduct a healthy lifestyle. The Code states that: ‘the family and gender education [should be] directed to forming students of responsible attitude to family, ...[and educating] children to have conscious ideas of the role and vital purpose of men and women according to traditional values of the Belarusian society’. The ‘education of culture of health and safety [should be] directed to forming students with safe behaviour in social and professional activity.’ Students have the right to ‘respect of human dignity, protection against all forms of physical and mental abuse, insult of their personality, and protection of life and health during educational process.’ 

The 2009 Law of the Republic of Belarus No. 65-Z on the Foundations of State Youth Policy states the promotion of a healthy lifestyle as a key objective of youth policy, and notes that it is the state’s responsibility to ensure that the necessary conditions are in place.  

The 2011-2015 State Programme on HIV Prevention seeks to ensure prevention among the most at-risk groups, including young people between the ages of 15–24. The programme includes: teacher training; prevention work in secondary education institutions and the provision of the necessary resources; the development of the volunteer movement; and the implementation of a joint communication strategy, including awareness-raising through mass media. 

The main objectives of the National Strategy for Strengthening the Health of Children and Adolescents for 2018-2021 include intensifying concrete actions aimed at developing skills for developing a healthy lifestyle in children and adolescents. Health education in schools includes age-appropriate knowledge that develops skills and endorses experiences that help them to make conscious choices for a healthy lifestyle as well as encouraging health-preserving behaviour. 

The Programme on Continuous Education of Children and Students for 2021-2025 seeks to ‘foster the culture of safe living and a healthy lifestyle; encouraging students’ safe behaviour in social and professional activities, daily life; developing healthy lifestyle skills and awareness of the value of health.’ Desired results include building students’ knowledge for conducting a healthy lifestyle and learning appropriate behaviour in emergency health situations. 

The National Strategy for the Sustainable Development of the Republic of Belarus (2017– 2035) calls for a health-promoting environment, the promotion of healthy lifestyles and health education. Objectives include conducting an active information campaign for youth to adopt a healthy lifestyle. 

The State Programme on People’s Health and Demographic Security for 2021-2025 emphasizes the importance of mitigating HIV through the provision of universal access to HIV diagnostics and treatment. Priority areas also include the development of measures to improve reproductive health, and the promotion of a healthy lifestyle and health-preserving culture.  

According to the Strategy for the Development of State Youth Policy of the Republic of Belarus until 2030, the main strategic areas in the area of youth health include encouraging healthy behaviours among young people and their understanding of human health and its importance.

According to a 2013 UNESCO report, as general secondary education students progress to the second level (grades 5–9) and third level (grades 10–11) certain topics are further emphasized and integrated into specific school subjects. These are related to health protection, adopting a healthy lifestyle, moral and sexual development, the consequences of harmful habits, and prevention strategies. These subjects include biology (specifically the ‘People and health’ theme), social sciences, and initial military and health training. 

Within the Basics of Life Safety curriculum, the ‘Protecting life and health’ theme is allocated two hours per year in primary school, seven hours in grades 5–7, and five hours in grades 8–9. This theme covers a range of topics, such as: family dynamics; parent-child relationships; friendship; relationships; gender differences; violence prevention and seeking help; managing emotions and self-control; coping with fear, stress and depression; conflict resolution; the influence of media, advertising and peers; decision-making; health and life values; nutrition; sports; hygiene; substance abuse and its consequences; and safety and online communication safety. Basics of Life Safety classes include different methods of instruction, such as training sessions, role-playing games, and situational games.

Teacher preparedness and capacity building: Information could not be found. 

Whether teachers are mandated to be trained on provision/delivery of sexuality education either as part of PRESET or INSET: According to a previous report by UNESCO, adequate training and support were provided to teachers through the Global Fund grant.  The Academy of Postgraduate Education and regional education development institutes conducted training for over 1,500 teachers. These teachers completed a comprehensive 42-hour prevention education course, which covered topics such as fostering moral identity in students, promoting healthy lifestyle skills, encouraging safe behaviour, and cultivating a responsible attitude towards one's own health. Notably, within the last five years, approximately one-third of schools (32.1%) have benefited from having a teacher who received specialized training in HIV and life skills education. The National Strategy for Strengthening the Health of Children and Adolescents for 2018-2021 calls for the take-up of professional development for teachers on the promotion of healthy lifestyles every five years.

The Ministry of Education is the primary authority for the development, coordination and creation of national development plans on youth issues within the central government. The Ministry of Education is mandated to implement uniform, coherent and sustainable youth policies, including the promotion of health. Within the ministry, the Office for Youth Affairs is primarily responsible for youth affairs and youth programming. The Ministry of Health is in charge of coordinating health-related initiatives and collaboration with other ministries and agencies. The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health jointly address a range of youth and health issues. The Ministry of Sports and Tourism and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security may also play a part. 

Primary and secondary education is provided by state institutions only. The development and implementation of curricula are under full control and management of the Ministry of Education and only officially approved materials can be used.

In cooperation with other relevant ministries and in accordance with the Law on Youth Policy, the Ministry of Education publishes the National Report On the Situation of Youth in the Republic of Belarus on an annual basis. The report covers a wide range of issues relating to youth and adolescents, including health. Control and measuring materials include questions relating to STIs and HIV, such as how they are spread. 

According to a 2013 UNESCO report, as part of the national system for HIV monitoring and evaluation, special surveys are carried out every two years to assess the proportion of educational institutions that deliver HIV prevention and life skills education and that employ peer education approaches in HIV prevention, with teachers trained in delivering HIV prevention and life skills education.