Tunisian experts and healthcare professionals are calling for the systematic introduction of comprehensive sexual education for children as a vital primary prevention tool against rising sexual violence.
During a roundtable discussion titled “Speaking Out to Protect,” organized by the Tunisian Society of Clinical Sexology and the Tunisian Society of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in partnership with the UNFPA, specialists identified sexual abuse as a major public health crisis with severe psychotraumatic consequences.
The initiative seeks to break persistent social taboos by providing children with the information necessary to recognize at-risk situations and encourage open dialogue. Participants emphasized that the current prevention and support systems are insufficient, particularly for vulnerable youth, and urged for an integrated response that bridges the health, education, and social sectors.
To support these goals, the UNFPA outlined strategic pathways for integrating these educational programs into Tunisian public policy. This effort is part of a broader national framework aimed at strengthening child protection mechanisms, improving reproductive health outcomes, and creating a sustainable reduction in violence against minors.
MK/AK/Sf/fss/abj/APA