Letter to the Ministers of Education and Health regarding an awareness campaign for young people on sexual and reproductive health and contraception

Honorable Mr. Minister,

With a series of recent publications and specialized, informative reports, the serious issue of contraception is brought back into the public eye, alongside the recording of high abortion rates in our country, relative to other European countries, particularly among teenagers. The abortion rate is especially high among those aged 15 to 18.

This fact is particularly alarming, and experts attribute it both to the insufficient education of young people on sexual and reproductive health issues, as well as to the continued use of traditional, ineffective contraceptive methods. Due to this very ignorance, modern contraceptive methods are met with skepticism and reservations, despite their proven effectiveness and controlled side effects. Based on these facts, the majority of abortions function as a means of contraception for any unwanted pregnancy, despite the serious psychological and physical consequences for the female body, as well as the relatively high economic cost.

The positive recommendation, operation, and contribution of the “Family Planning Centers,” aimed at educating women about contraceptive methods and other fertility control measures, did not have the expected impact, as there was no systematic campaign by the supervising bodies, nor collaboration with the family and local authorities, to make them more widely known.

Negative results have also arisen from the delay in the implementation of the announced Ministry of Education Program on “Interpersonal Relationships – Sexual Education” in schools, which aimed at providing proper and comprehensive information to children starting from the sixth grade, in cooperation with the family.

Because I consider the issue of contraception education to be very serious, and obviously abortions cannot be used as a means of contraception, especially at such a sensitive age as adolescence, I would like to ask you to intervene so that a nationwide awareness campaign can be launched. Local municipalities, schools, the media, and all social organizations could make a positive contribution and play a meaningful role in this direction.

Additionally, I would like to ask you to intervene so that the implementation of the Ministry of Education’s program “Interpersonal Relationships – Sexual Education” in all schools can be carried out immediately and without further delay. Although it is optional, it will contribute in the most positive way to the proper education of young people, in order to eliminate such alarming phenomena.

With deep respect

Anna Karamanou