A northern Ireland pro-life group have launched a new sexual health booklet for young people.Precious Life said their booklet comes in response to the epidemic of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and the high rates of teenage pregnancy and abortion.
The group say they hope the booklet will be used in schools, and their volunteers are currently distributing it to young people outside family planning clinics in Belfast and Derry.
Precious Life has blamed the promotion of so-called ‘safe sex’ by agencies like the Brook Clinic in Belfast as the problem, not the solution, when it comes to STDs, teenage pregnancy and abortion.
Entitled REALITY ...your guide to good sexual health - the 32 page glossy colour booklet is the first of its kind in Northern Ireland.
In an easy-to-read pictorial teen magazine style booklet, it warns young people of the dangers and health risks of casual sex and contraception, and encourages sexual abstinence until marriage.
Short chapters cover topics like: Casual sex – is it worth the risk? STDs, Contraception – what are the risks, When life begins – just the facts, If sex feels so good…..why do I feel so bad? Abstinence, You can say ‘NO’, and Take the ‘Is it love’ test.
Precious Life has printed 25,000 copies of the booklet which is available to the public from their office at PO Box 425, Belfast, BT1 4YF for a small contribution.
Director and founder of Precious Life Bernadette Smyth told ciNews that the publication is being well received by the young people going to the family planning clinics.
Northern Ireland has three such clinics providing contraception and the morning after pill - one in Derry, and two in Belfast.
For ten years Precious Life have been talking to people outside the clinics. “We don’t harass anyone. We just invite people to talk to us.”
However they felt hampered because according to Ms Smyth, they did not have the right material to present to young people.
“You have to have the right ammunition or they are not interested!”
Ms Smyth, who is herself a counsellor, hands out the booklets at the Brook clinic on Saturdays.
“Young people go there specifically for contraception or the morning after pill. Usually there are between 30 and 50 of them on a day. I have even met nine and ten year olds. It is heart breaking.”
She said that most of the children and young people have no idea of the health risks of early sexual activity.
“They don’t realise that a condom won’t protect you from an STD. They are looking for a quick fix and at these clinics, they are not dissuaded from their sexual activities.”
According to Ms Smyth making contraception freely available only leads young people into a false sense of security because no contraceptive is 100 per cent effective.
“Our young people have been conned into believing that contraception will protect them but in reality it only increases STDs and teenage pregnancy.”
Precious Life hopes to distribute the booklet, which “debunks the myth of so-called ‘safe-sex’” to schools across Northern Ireland in the coming months.
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