MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, YOGYAKARTA – Secretary General of ‘Aisyiyah Tri Hastuti Nur Rochimah emphasized the critical need for comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education for all adolescents, including those with disabilities.
“Sexual and reproductive health education for adolescents with disabilities is frequently neglected, including those in special schools,” said Tri at the Training of Trainer (ToT) on the sexual and reproductive health education of adolescents with disabilities on August 19-20.
As the Head of ‘Aisyiyah’s Inclusion Program, Tri emphasized that this workshop was a significant step towards addressing this gap.
“These adolescents have equal rights to sexual and reproductive health education. This knowledge empowers them to understand their bodies, make informed decisions, and protect themselves from sexual violence,” said Tri in the training participated by sixteen special education school teachers and six ‘Aisyiyah Regency Board representatives.
According to Tri, Indonesia has a substantial adolescent population, totaling 45.5 million individuals aged 10 to 19, including those with disabilities. Nevertheless, this group of young people, who are in a crucial period of development and self-discovery, has been largely overlooked.
Thus, Tri urged ‘Aisyiyah leaders at all levels to become advocates for sexual and reproductive health education for adolescents with disabilities.
“We need to work together with schools, teachers, and parents to provide the necessary support and guidance to these adolescents,” said Tri.
Besides, the training included sessions facilitated by the Gemilang Sehat Indonesia Foundation and Muhammadiyah Jombang Special School, both of which have experience in implementing sexual and reproductive health programs for adolescents with disabilities. The trained teachers could cascade the knowledge to other teachers and apply it in their classrooms.
