TIL BDR GHALLEY | Thimphu
Young people are calling for stronger comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) in schools, improved access to youth-friendly health services and greater participation in policymaking as they seek a larger role in decisions affecting their lives.
The issue was highlighted during Respect, Educate, Nurture and Empower Women (RENEW)’s third Youth-Led Advocacy Series, where adolescents engaged with Members of Parliament on issues including reproductive health, consent, gender equality, mental well-being, online safety and technology-facilitated violence.
The week-long Summer Youth Engagement Programme brought together 57 members of the Druk Adolescent Initiative on Sexual Awareness (DAISAN) from 28 schools across 10 western dzongkhags, along with members of Youth Upliftment through Media, Reflection and Advocacy (YUMRA), a youth network established by the Bhutan Media Foundation and Save the Children.
The initiative aimed to provide young people with accurate information, strengthen their advocacy skills and create opportunities for direct engagement between adolescents and policymakers.
Sangay Lham, Programme Officer at RENEW, said the programme was designed to help young people develop a deeper understanding of comprehensive sexuality education while creating a platform for them to share their experiences and concerns with decision-makers.
“The programme was designed to help young people move beyond facts alone and share their experiences, concerns and recommendations on issues that matter to them,” she said.
She said the engagement also focused on building participants’ confidence to advocate for issues affecting their communities.
“Over the past five days, our participants have dedicated themselves to learning, growing and preparing to become advocates for the communities they serve,” she said.
The programme included youth debates and policy dialogues where participants presented recommendations directly to Members of Parliament.
For many participants, the discussions highlighted gaps in young people’s access to reliable information on sexual and reproductive health, relationships and personal well-being.
Unish Ghalleay, a Youth Ambassador for RENEW and a student of Karma Academy in Paro, said misconceptions about comprehensive sexuality education continue to shape young people’s understanding of the subject.
“One of the biggest misconceptions is that comprehensive sexuality education is only about sex. In reality, it also covers topics such as healthy relationships, consent, gender equality, mental well-being, communication skills and personal safety,” she said.
She said many young people continue to depend on social media and peers for information, making access to accurate and age-appropriate education important. The programme, she added, helped participants build confidence to ask questions and make informed decisions.
Calling for stronger integration of comprehensive sexuality education in schools, Unish Ghalleay said the subject should be taught consistently by trained educators in environments where students feel comfortable discussing concerns.
“It should be delivered in a more consistent and interactive way by well-trained educators in a safe, non-judgmental environment where young people feel comfortable asking questions,” she said.
She also highlighted the importance of engagement between young people and policymakers in ensuring that youth perspectives are reflected in decisions affecting them.
“This engagement was very meaningful because it gave young people the opportunity to share their experiences, concerns and ideas directly with policymakers. It made participants feel heard and valued,” she said.
Sushil Rai, Youth Ambassador and Youth Representative for RENEW, said gaps in access to accurate information continue to create challenges for young people in understanding relationships, consent, reproductive health, mental well-being and gender equality.
“Many young people still lack access to accurate and age-appropriate information about relationships, consent, reproductive health, mental well-being and gender equality. This gap often leads to stigma and preventable issues such as teenage pregnancies and unhealthy relationships,” he said.
He said reliable information was essential for young people to make informed decisions and contribute to healthier communities.
“When young people are equipped with the right knowledge, they are able to make informed decisions, protect themselves and contribute to healthier communities,” Sushil said.
Reflecting on the engagement with policymakers, he said youth participation should lead to practical action.
“Engaging with policymakers provided young people with an opportunity to share their experiences, concerns and perspectives. The focus now should be on translating these discussions into concrete actions and policies that address the issues young people face,” he said.
Participants recommended strengthening comprehensive sexuality education in schools, expanding confidential youth-friendly health services, addressing mental health concerns and gender-based violence, and creating more opportunities for meaningful youth participation in policymaking.
For students attending the programme, the experience also changed their understanding of sexuality education.
Tandin Kezang Gyeltshen, a student of Zhemgang Central School, said the programme expanded his understanding of comprehensive sexuality education beyond reproductive health, highlighting its role in promoting respect, inclusion and informed decision-making.
He said young people should have access to accurate information and safe spaces to discuss issues affecting them while also taking responsibility for fostering a culture of respect and inclusion.
Dorji Choden, a student of Yangchenphu Higher Secondary School, said youth-focused programmes helped students develop leadership and communication skills.
“These programmes give young people opportunities to develop leadership and communication skills while encouraging active citizenship. I hope students’ voices will be taken seriously and their recommendations translated into action to create safer and more inclusive schools,” she said.
Ugyen P. Kelden from Dashiding Higher Secondary School said the programme increased his confidence to discuss adolescent health and well-being.
“Before joining the programme, I often felt shy discussing adolescent health and well-being. After the training, I feel much more confident because I now have accurate information, better communication skills and understand the importance of creating safe and respectful spaces for these conversations,” he said.
The advocacy series also included the presentation of YUMRA’s youth-led national assessment on cyberbullying and technology-facilitated violence and abuse, highlighting the role of young people in identifying and responding to online safety challenges affecting children and youth.
Organizers said the initiative aimed to strengthen collaboration between youth groups, policymakers and development partners while ensuring young people’s experiences and recommendations contribute to future policy discussions.
