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SEA defends Nucleus against Precious Life

uploaded 15th March 2004

The Socialist Environmental Alliance is calling on all responsible parents and young people to stand up for the sexual health clinic at the Nucleus. Spokesperson for the SEA, Carey-Ann Clarke, says "Of course, most parents would prefer that their teenagers are not sexually active. But the overwhelming majority of parents are also clear that if teenagers are going to have sex anyway, they should have access to contraception."

"The Teenage Pregnancy and Parenthood Strategy and Action Plan 2002-2007 had the support of all the parties in the Executive. It says that family planning services for young people must be aware that 'concerns about confidentiality may prevent them from seeking advice'. Health and Social Services Boards and Trusts are required by the Strategy to ensure that sexual health services 'are available, accessible and tailored to the needs of all young people'.

"There is good reason why Trusts are required to provide these services", says the SEA spokesperson. "It is because the North of Ireland has one of the highest rates of teenage pregnancy in Europe. Every year, about a dozen girls of 13 have babies and a similar number go to England for abortions. Does Precious Life really think these girls should be denied contraception?"

"We live in a different world today. Children as young as three are the targets of advertisers and the sexualisation of children is one of the unfortunate results. More and more girls now enter puberty at the age of nine or ten and this has a knock-on effect on the age they become sexually active," says Ms. Clarke.

"We can bury our heads in the sand and pretend it's not happening. Or, we can face up to it and equip our young people with the confidence and positive self-esteem that will help them delay sexual activity until they are mature enough and then to use safer sex practices. The broad range of programmes run by the Nucleus is exactly what's needed. The young people who attend sexual health clinics should be congratulated for their responsible attitude, not turned away by the likes of Precious Life."

Ms. Clarke went on "Anyone who knows anything about the Nucleus knows that it is a professional and valuable resource for young people in Derry. The sexual health clinic is a very small part of its work, work that was widely praised as vital during its funding crisis last year.

"As usual," said Ms. Clarke, "Precious Life's obsession with people's sex lives means that it sees only a very narrow part of the work of the Nucleus and is not concerned with the effect its proposed blockade might have on that work."

"Over the coming weeks, the SEA will be joining with young people, women's groups and others to show the extent of support there is in Derry for the work of the Nucleus. We call on all who support young people's rights to make their voices heard also.





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