Law on Comprehensive Education for the Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy in Honduras

OBJECTIVE. This 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 private non-governmental management;

• 2)

  To contribute to the development of the personality and capacities of Honduran men and women, under 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 education of boys and girls, the empowerment and responsibility of adolescent persons;

• 4)

  To provide scientific, accurate, up-to-date and appropriate information for each stage of development of students, regarding the different aspects involved in sexuality focusing on the comprehensive education of the person, respecting their dignity, their rights, their conscience and their culture;

• 5)

  To promote responsible conduct in the exercise of sexuality and to encourage the postponement of the initiation 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 adolescent mothers;

• 7)

  To develop actions for the promotion of healthy lifestyle 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 all coercive sexual practices, abuse and sexual violence;

• 10)

  To generate awareness regarding the obligations derived from motherhood and fatherhood;

• 11)

  To promote the active participation of adolescent boys and girls 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 for care and education of girls, boys and adolescent persons; and,

• 13)

  To improve the competencies of the family and caregivers so that they promote and collaborate in the education and comprehensive formation for the prevention of adolescent pregnancy in Honduras, of their children, girls and adolescents.

SCOPE OF APPLICATION. This Law is of mandatory 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 appreciation of families and educational centers as spaces for the education of girls, boys and adolescent persons.

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 comprises teachings on sexuality that are age-appropriate, culturally relevant, and provide scientific, accurate and realistic information.

RIGHT TO COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATION FOR THE PREVENTION OF ADOLESCENT PREGNANCY. All persons are recognized the right to comprehensive, timely, inclusive, equitable and permanent education on the practice of responsible sexuality and affectivity, 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, accurate, truthful manner and appropriate to each psychophysiological stage of the human life cycle, based on healthy and balanced affectivity. Education shall promote equality and equity, considering affective, biological, physiological and ethical aspects.

IMPLEMENTING AUTHORITY. The State, through the Secretary of State in the Office of Education, is the implementing authority of this normative and must guarantee:

• 1)

  The incorporation and development of mandatory minimum and transversal curricular content, taking into account the different stages of development of students;

• 2)

  The offering of training and reflection courses for parents, guardians, and any other legal representative on the different aspects relating to the sexuality of children and adolescents and promote understanding and support in the affective maturation of children and adolescents collaborating to form their sexuality and preparing them to establish positive interpersonal relationships; and,

• 3)

  To introduce the topic of comprehensive education for the prevention of adolescent pregnancy, in teacher training and professional development programs within the framework of initial and ongoing teacher education. For the fulfillment of the objectives provided in this Law, the Secretary of State in the Office of Education shall coordinate and shall have the collaboration of all State departments, especially the Secretary of State in the Office of Health. The National Autonomous University of Honduras (UNAH) shall be the implementing authority with respect to the promotion of comprehensive education for the prevention of adolescent pregnancy in higher education.

OBLIGATED PARTIES. The following are obligated to strict compliance with this Law, execution and compliance with its regulations:

• 1)

  The Secretary of State in the Office of Education (SEDUC);

• 2)

  The Secretary of State in the Office of Health (SESAL);

• 3)

  The Secretary of State in the Office of Social Development (SEDESOL); and,

• 4)

  In the sphere of higher education, the Council of Higher Education.

BUDGET. The Secretary of State in the Office of Education and the National Autonomous University of Honduras (UNAH) shall include a budget line in each fiscal year's budget that guarantees the sustainability and fulfillment of the objectives provided in this Law and the implementation of programs that address 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 this Law, the Secretary of State in the Office of Education shall prepare and submit for consideration by the Executive Branch the corresponding Regulations. With respect to higher education, the National Autonomous University of Honduras (UNAH) shall create its regulations for the application of this Law.

This Decree shall enter into force as of the date of its publication in the Official Gazette "La Gaceta". Given in the city of Tegucigalpa, municipality of the Central District, in the Assembly 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 Branch Therefore: Execute it. Tegucigalpa, M.D.C., March 15, 2023. IRIS XIOMARA CASTRO SARMIENTO PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC THE SECRETARY OF STATE IN THE OFFICE OF EDUCATION