Comprehensive Law for Prevention of Pregnancy Education
Congreso Nacional
- Decree: 8-2023
- Published: January 22, 2026
- Issuing body: Congreso Nacional
- Gazette: 37,050
- Category: Administrative
Summary
This law requires all schools in Honduras to teach comprehensive education about sexuality and adolescent pregnancy prevention from preschool through higher education. It aims to provide students with scientific, updated information appropriate to their age, promoting responsible decisions about sexuality while preventing unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases, and sexual violence. The Department of Education is responsible for implementing it with support from other state institutions.
Considerations
Whereas Article 151 of the Constitution of the Republic declares that: "Education is an essential function of the State for the conservation, promotion and dissemination of culture, which must project its benefits to society without discrimination of any kind, and likewise consecrates in its Article 145 the right to health of all Hondurans.
Whereas on September 25, 2015, the General Assembly of the United Nations (UN), through Resolution number A/RES/70/1, explicitly recognized the adoption and incorporation by its Member States of the 2030 Agenda, which contains the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which aim to guarantee more inclusive, equitable and quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
Whereas comprehensive education for the prevention of adolescent pregnancy is a necessary component of the fundamental right to health and in particular, the protection of sexual and reproductive health, which is clearly and explicitly recognized in the international law of Human Rights, highlighting its protection in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and in the Declaration and Program of Action, approved at the World Conference on Human Rights (Vienna), the Platform for Action, approved at the World Conference on Women (Beijing) and the Program of Action approved at the International Conference on Population and Development (Cairo).
Whereas the Ibero-American Convention on the Rights of Young People explicitly recognizes in its Article 23 the right to sexual education as a source of personal development, affectivity and communicative expression, as well as information relating to reproduction and its consequences, and likewise the Montevideo Consensus on Population and Development (I Regional Conference on Population and Development of Latin America and the Caribbean held in Montevideo from August 12-15, 2013) agrees to ensure the effective implementation of comprehensive education programs for the prevention of adolescent pregnancy in Honduras, recognizing affectivity from early childhood, respecting the progressive autonomy of boys and girls and the informed decisions of adolescents and young people about their sexuality, with a participatory, intercultural, gender and human rights approach.
Whereas the Framework Law for the Comprehensive Development of Youth, contained in Decree No. 260-2005 of September 1, 2005, published in the Official Journal "La Gaceta" dated January 16, 2006, numeral 7 of Article 13, establishes the right of young people to comprehensive health care; as well as, in its numeral 1, to receive education and guidance on it, and likewise Article 23 in its numerals 1) and 2) of the Ibero-American Convention on the Rights of Young People, establishes that States recognize that the right to education also includes the right to sexual education as a source of personal development, affectivity and communicative expression, as well as information relating to reproduction and its consequences. Sexual education shall be provided at all educational levels and shall promote responsible conduct in the exercise of sexuality, oriented toward its full acceptance and identity, as well as the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases.
Whereas it is important to mention the continuous cases of gender-based violence that occur in the country, directed at women and girls who in one way or another suffer violations and abuse. In this sense, it is necessary to recognize the need for the creation of regulations that can generate security and means by which women and girls can take action to claim their personal rights. Regulations that provide openness to the bodily autonomy of women and girls, full and equal participation in their economies, societies and access to vital services.
Whereas the Ibero-American Convention on the Rights of Young People in its Article 23 establishes that States Parties recognize the important function and responsibility that corresponds to the family in the sexual education of young people, and likewise shall adopt and implement policies on sexual education, establishing plans and programs that ensure information and the full and responsible exercise of this right.
Whereas in accordance with Article 205 Attribution 1) of the Constitution of the Republic, it is the power of the National Congress to: Create, decree, interpret, reform and repeal laws.
Articles
OBJECTIVE. The present Law has the following objectives:
- 1)
To promote and guarantee the teaching of comprehensive education for the prevention of adolescent pregnancy, based on a rights-based approach, in all modalities of the public education system of state management and non-governmental private management;
- 2)
To contribute to the development of the personality and capacities of Honduran men and women, in conditions of freedom, equality, without discrimination and with respect for human dignity;
- 3)
To ensure the inclusion of comprehensive education for the prevention of adolescent pregnancy, within the national curriculum framework that promotes the comprehensive formation of boys and girls, the empowerment and responsibility of adolescents;
- 4)
To provide scientific, precise, updated and age-appropriate information about the different aspects involved in sexuality, focusing on the comprehensive formation of the person, respecting their dignity, their rights, their conscience and their culture;
- 5)
To promote responsible conduct in the exercise of sexuality and encourage the postponement of the beginning of sexual relations until the person reaches physical, emotional and mental maturity;
- 6)
To prevent unwanted pregnancies and disseminate knowledge of the use of modern contraceptive methods in sexually active adolescents and in adolescent mothers;
- 7)
To develop actions to promote healthy living habits and prevent sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV/AIDS;
- 8)
To prevent school dropout;
- 9)
To prevent different types of violence with emphasis on combating any sexually coercive practice, abuse and sexual violence;
- 10)
To raise awareness about the obligations derived from motherhood and fatherhood;
- 11)
To promote the active participation of adolescents in the strategies of comprehensive education for the prevention of adolescent pregnancy in Honduras;
- 12)
To encourage the involvement and responsibility of the family as a space of care and formation of girls, boys and adolescents; and,
- 13)
To improve the competencies of the family and caregivers so that they promote and collaborate in the formation and comprehensive education for the prevention of adolescent pregnancy in Honduras, of their boys, girls and adolescents.
SCOPE OF APPLICATION. The present Law is mandatory in its application at the national level in all pre-basic education, basic education, secondary education and higher education establishments.
PRINCIPLES. Comprehensive education for the prevention of adolescent pregnancy is based on the following principles:
- 1)
The recognition of the person as a full subject of rights and the strengthening of their autonomy for the construction of their citizenship;
- 2)
Access to information;
- 3)
The right to participation;
- 4)
Respect for the right to privacy; and,
- 5)
The recognition and valuation of families and educational centers as spaces for the formation of girls, boys and adolescents.
COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATION. Comprehensive education for the prevention of adolescent pregnancy consists of pedagogical actions to provide information and build knowledge and competencies that allow students to make conscious and critical decisions about sexuality. It encompasses teachings about sexuality that are age-appropriate, culturally relevant, and provide scientific, precise and realistic information.
RIGHT TO COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATION FOR THE PREVENTION OF ADOLESCENT PREGNANCY. The right to comprehensive, timely, inclusive, equitable and permanent education on the practice of responsible sexuality and affectivity is recognized for all people, in accordance with their physical, mental and emotional development. It is the duty of the State to promote ethical and scientific guidance and information on sexuality and reproduction, in a simple, precise, truthful and age-appropriate manner for each psychophysiological stage of the human life cycle, based on healthy and balanced affectivity. The education shall promote equality and equity, considering the affective, biological, physiological and ethical aspects.
ENFORCING AUTHORITY. The State, through the State Secretariat of Education, is the enforcing authority of the present regulations and must guarantee:
- 1)
The incorporation and development of mandatory minimum and transversal curricular content, taking into account the different developmental stages of students;
- 2)
The offering of training and reflection courses for parents, guardians, tutors and any other legal representative on different aspects relating to the sexuality of children and adolescents and promote understanding and accompaniment in the affective maturation of children and adolescents, collaborating to form their sexuality and prepare them to establish positive interpersonal relationships; and,
- 3)
Introduce the topic of comprehensive education for the prevention of adolescent pregnancy in teacher training and development programs within the framework of initial and ongoing teacher education. To fulfill the objectives provided for in this Law, the State Secretariat of Education shall coordinate and count on the collaboration of all State agencies, especially the State Secretariat of Health. The National Autonomous University of Honduras (UNAH) shall be the enforcing authority regarding the promotion of comprehensive education for the prevention of adolescent pregnancy in higher education.
OBLIGATED PARTIES. The following are obligated to unrestricted compliance with the present Law, execution and compliance with its regulations:
- 1)
The State Secretariat of Education (SEDUC);
- 2)
The State Secretariat of Health (SESAL);
- 3)
The State Secretariat of Social Development (SEDESOL); and,
- 4)
In the sphere of higher education, the Council of Higher Education.
BUDGET. The State Secretariat of Education and the National Autonomous University of Honduras (UNAH) shall include a line item in the budget of each fiscal year that guarantees the sustainability and fulfillment of the objectives provided for in the present Law and the implementation of programs that address the teaching of education for sexuality without prejudice to the efforts that may be made to obtain financing and cooperation from national and international organizations.
REGULATIONS. Within two (2) months following the approval of the present Law, the State Secretariat of Education shall develop and submit for consideration by the Executive Power the corresponding Regulations. With regard to higher education, the National Autonomous University of Honduras (UNAH) shall create its regulations for the application of the present Law.
The present Decree shall enter into force as of the day of its publication in the Official Journal "La Gaceta". Given in the city of Tegucigalpa, municipality of the Central District, in the Session Hall of the National Congress, on the eighth day of the month of March of two thousand twenty-three. LUIS ROLANDO REDONDO GUIFARRO PRESIDENT LUZ ANGÉLICA SMITH MEJÍA SECRETARY SILVIA BESSY AYALA FIGUEROA SECRETARY To the Executive Power Therefore: Let it be executed. Tegucigalpa, M.D.C., March 15, 2023. IRIS XIOMARA CASTRO SARMIENTO PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC THE STATE SECRETARY IN THE OFFICE OF EDUCATION
Related laws
- Law on Comprehensive Education for the Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy in Honduras — This law requires all schools and educational institutions in Honduras to teach comprehensive sex education and adolescent pregnancy prevention, from preschool to university. The State, through the Ministry of Education, must ensure that students receive scientific, up-to-date, and age-appropriate information to prevent unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, and sexual violence, while promoting responsible affective and sexual behavior. (Decree 8-2023, 2023)
- Law on Comprehensive Education for the Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy in Honduras — This law requires all schools in Honduras to teach comprehensive sexuality education and adolescent pregnancy prevention from preschool through university. It benefits children and teens by providing scientific information about responsible sexuality, contraceptive methods, and sexual violence prevention, while involving families in this education. (Decree 8-2023, 2026)
- Decreto Legislativo No. 8-2023 — Ley de Educación Integral de Prevención al Embarazo Adolescente en Honduras (Decree 8-2023, 2026)
- Acuerdo Ejecutivo No. 001-2021 — Reglamento de la Ley Especial sobre VIH/SIDA y su Reforma en aplicación del Decreto Legislativo Número 25-2015 — This regulation organizes the national response against HIV/AIDS with a human rights approach. It creates the structure and functions of CONASIDA (highest decision-making body), establishes how public institutions, private sector, and civil society participate, and defines policies for prevention, education, and comprehensive care. It benefits everyone, especially those living with HIV and vulnerable populations. (Decree 001-2021, 2021)
- Fundamental Law of Education — This law guarantees the human right to education in Honduras and establishes how the national education system works. It defines education as free and mandatory from preschool through high school, organizes education into formal, non-formal, and informal components, and specifies the responsibilities of the State, teachers, parents, and community to ensure everyone has access to quality education. (Decree 262-2011, 2011)