Sexual health is a state of physical, emotional, mental and social well-being in relation to sexuality; it is not merely the absence of disease, dysfunction or infi rmity. Sexual health requires a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships, as well as the possibility of having pleasurable and safe sexual experiences, free of coercion, discrimination and violence. For sexual health to be attained and maintained, the sexual rights of all persons must be respected, protected and fulfilled. From UNESCO International Guidelines on Sexuality Education (2009)

Reproductive Health addresses the reproductive processes, functions and system at all stages of life. Reproductive health, therefore, implies that people are able to have a responsible, satisfying and safe sex life and that they have the capability to reproduce and the freedom to decide if, when and how often to do so. Implicit in this are the right of men and women to be informed of and to have access to safe, effective, affordable and acceptable methods of fertility regulation of their choice, and the right of access to appropriate health care services that will enable women to go safely through pregnancy and childbirth and provide couples with the best chance of having a healthy infant. Reproductive rights… rest on the recognition of the basic right of all couples and individuals to decide freely and responsibly the number, spacing and timing of their children and to have the information and means to do so, and the right to attain the highest standard of sexual and reproductive health. It also includes their right to make decisions concerning reproduction free of discrimination, coercion and violence, as expressed in human rights documents... The promotion of these rights for all people should be the fundamental basis for government- and community supported policies and programs in the area of reproductive health, including family planning. (Adapted from WHO and UNESCO documents)

Sexuality is a central aspect of being human throughout life and encompassessex, gender identities and roles, sexual
orientation, eroticism, pleasure, intimacy and reproduction. Sexuality is experiencedand expressed in thoughts, fantasies,
desires, beliefs, attitudes, values, behaviours, practices, roles and relationships. Whilesexuality can include all of these dimensions, not all of them are always experienced or expressed. Sexuality is influenced by the interaction of biological, psychological, social, economic, political, cultural, ethical, legal, historical, religious and spiritual factors.

Sexual rights embrace human rights that are already recognized in national laws, international human rights documents and
other consensus statements. They include the right of all persons, free of coercion, discrimination and violence, to:

• the highest attainable standard of sexual health, including access to sexual and reproductive health care services;
• seek, receive and impart information related to sexuality;
  
• sexuality education;
• respect for bodily integrity;
• choose their partner;
• decide to be sexually active or not;
• consensual sexual relations;
• consensual marriage;
• decide whether or not, and when, to have children; and
  
• pursue a satisfying, safe and pleasurable sexual life.
  

The responsible exercise of human rights requires that all persons respect the rights of others.

Sexual health education is the process of equipping individuals, couples, families and communities with the information, motivation and behavioural skills needed to enhance sexual health and avoid negative sexual health outcomes.Sexual health education is a broadly based, community-supported process that requires the full participation of educational, medical, public health, social welfare and legal institutions in our society. It involves an individual’s personal, family, religious, social and cultural values in understanding and making decisions about sexual behaviour and implementing those decisions. Effective sexual health education maintains an open and nondiscriminatory dialogue that respects individual beliefs. It is sensitive to the diverse needs of individuals irrespective of their age, race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, physical/cognitive abilities and religious background.

School-based sexual health education is delivered in classrooms by teachers, peer leaders, public health professionals and others. These lessons are guided or controlled by a formal health/personal and social development curriculum. Teachers are usually encouraged to use lesson plans and teaching/learning materials that have been reviewed or authorized by their respective education ministries and/or local school boards. Teachers and schools are often encouraged to hold meetings with or inform parents about the content of the curricula. Most school systems permit parents to withdraw their children from classes when sexual health education is taught but very few do so. The vast majority of parents support sexual health education and expect that their children will receive sound and factual informaiton that also respects the parents right to guide their children's choices. (Note: Informal education delivered through school assemblies, peer leaders, visiting presenters etc are treated in this encyclopedia as forms of social support rather than education.)

School Sexual Health Promotion combines sexual health education with various forms of social support such as parent education and involvement, youth engagement, peer led and school wide awareness activities as well as changes to the physical environment such as safe routes to school, lighting of secluded areas on school grounds, and the delivery of health services such as information, referrals to counseling and STD testing, the delivery of HPV vaccines and more.