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Traditional Foes Announce Consensus Reached On Sexual Health
(06/01/2006) by Press Release
For Immediate Release Media Contact: Geoffrey Knox: 212-229-0540, 917-414-1749
May 18, 2006 Mona Finston: 212-724-6117; Sondra Segal: 646-266-8540
TRADITIONAL FOES ANNOUNCE CONSENSUS REACHED ON SEXUAL HEALTH
Former Surgeon General David Satcher Convened National Organizations in Two-Year Consensus Process on Sexuality
(Washington, DC, May 18, 2006) Leaders and representatives of 18 national organizations with diverse constituencies and often opposing perspectives on sexual health announced today that they have reached agreement on important issues regarding sexuality. In a report released at a press conference in Washington, DC, the leaders articulated the agreements reached, including a common vision of what constitutes sexual health, the best practices for research on sexual health, and core elements of sexuality education. They also identified and clarified continued disagreement on issues regarding sexual abstinence, responsible sexual behavior and sexual orientation, and recognized that these areas need further exploration.
Convened by former U.S. Surgeon General David Satcher, these national leaders have participated over the past two years in a process known as the National Consensus Process on Sexual Health and Responsible Sexual Behavior (NCP). Hosted by the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia where Dr. Satcher is interim president, the NCP was created to broaden common ground among combatants on issues of sexual health. Because the question of sexual health is ideologically charged, it is often considered too sensitive to approach in public discussions and there has been little significant dialogue toward common public policy.
These leaders took a risk in engaging in this type of consensus building process on sexual health, said Dr. Satcher. “There was no certainty as to success but there was a firm belief that when people come together to honestly and openly talk, good things can happen. In the area of sexual health good things need to happen for our nation, especially for our children.
During their deliberations at eight meetings over the last two years, the participants developed a number of agreements that had never been previously recognized, as well as insight into areas of disagreement. These include:
A Vision for Sexual Health and Related Understandings
Best Practices for Research on Sexual Health and Behavior
Sexual Health Research Recommendations
HIV/STDs/STIs
Parental Sexual Health Education
Sexual Abstinence
Responsible Sexual Behavior
Sexual Orientation
The NCP has addressed a significant national need for a coherent public health policy with regard to sexual health stated Father Michael Place, Delegate, US Conference of Catholic Bishops. Hopefully, its recommendations will serve as a foundation for a much needed respectful and inclusive national dialogue.?
A significant agreement reached by the diverse participants is on what constitutes Best Practices for Research on Sexual Health and Behavior. The interpretation of research findings in the field of sexual health is highly contentious and this agreement seeks to support a set of standards for scientific research that can be used to support sound public health policies and programs.
I have a better appreciation of the core beliefs of the conservative organizations that participated in consensus process and a clearer understanding of the areas where consensus and compromise may be possible and where it likely is not, said Sharon Camp, President of The Guttmacher Institute, a research organization that focuses on sexual and reproductive health. Perhaps, in the future when some of us debate the merits of individual scientific studies in the field of sexual health, this research document will at least give us a common starting point and a level of mutual respect essential to real communication.
Twenty-eight leaders of national organizations with interests in the field of sexual health were asked to participate in the NCP. Of those invited, three chose not to participate and seven leaders withdrew during the process for a variety of reasons. The 18 leaders continuing in the process represent a wide range of constituencies and points of view.
The National Consensus Process has been a valuable experience in both understanding the views of others, but also in strengthening and clarifying my own views in respect to the importance of sexual health and what approaches will prove most effective in achieving it for our nation and the world,� said Shepherd Smith, President of The Institute for Youth Development
In the agreement on sexual health education, for example, the NCP report recognizes the complex of people serving in the parental role in sexual health education for youth. The report also identifies eight components for all sexual health education for children everywhere in the United States and supports flexibility for particular communities to determine the timing, time duration and emphasis among the eight identified components.
"It has been a very rare and enlightening experience to engage in dialogue not debate with others who represent extremely different perspectives,? stated Lorraine Cole, President of the Black Women's Health Imperative. “It has been an important and dignified exchange of divergent and deeply held beliefs and positions on very sensitive issues. The work of all of the organizations that remained involved should be enriched as a result of our identifying areas of mutual understanding and clarifying areas of difference."
drsatcher.com
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