• Nabunnya
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The Cost of Limited Sex Education

Imagine finding a cobra poised to strike yet having no idea what it is or what it can do to you. You might try to touch it, kick it, or walk past it unbothered. If it bites you, you’ll say you didn’t know but still be poisoned. And if it doesn’t, you might even assume it’s harmless next time you see one. But the truth remains—snakes are dangerous, whether you know it or not. Why this story? It mirrors the reality of what happens when children grow up without sex education. Without knowledge about perpetrators of sexual abuse or the tricks they use, children become more vulnerable to abuse. In contrast, children who are informed are more likely to recognize warning signs and protect themselves. Yet despite this, our government has continued to remove sex education from the school curriculum, driven by the mistaken belief that it only teaches children about sex. This misconception has caused a dangerous silence around important topics like body awareness, consent, relationships, and puberty—topics that could equip children with the knowledge they need to stay safe. If we compare generations, many adults today can recall receiving some form of age-appropriate sex education. Those early lessons helped many navigate risks and avoid harm. In today’s digital world—where dangers are only a click away—children have more exposure but less preparation. Keeping silent about sex education is not protection. It is exposure through ignorance. At Together Against Childhood Sexual Violence Uganda, we believe that the right information empowers children. Sex education is not a luxury—it is a life-saving tool and a critical strategy in preventing childhood sexual violence. Because not all survivors were raped—some were manipulated, misled, or violated in ways they couldn’t understand or report. We therefore issue a call to action to practitioners, educators, policy makers, and governments: Bring back comprehensive, age-appropriate sex education. For the sake of prevention. For the sake of protection. For the sake of children. — Nabunnya Gloria Founder, Together Against Childhood Sexual Violence Uganda