The “Standards for Sexuality Education in Europe” were developed by a group of 20 experts from nine European countries under the guidance of the Federal Centre for Health Education (BZgA) in Cologne, Germany and the WHO Regional Office for Europe. The Standards are an important instrument to overcome huge differences in quality and scope of sexuality education in the European region.

SHine SA (Sexual Health information, networking and education, South Australia) aims to improve the sexual health and well-being of all South Australians. The share (sexual health and relationships education) program aimed to improve the health and wellbeing of young people in schools.

This presentation will highlight the tension between a focus on the right to health services and treatment and the problems that a medicalization of non-conforming gender expressions imply from a human rights perspective.

Some sexual health experts are concerned that entertainment media promote undesirable forms of sexual practice among young people – including promiscuity and premarital sex. Such concerns are problematic. It is wrong to insist that there is only a single ‘normal’ kind of sexual practice in which all people should engage.