A/65/162 37. Article 14 (1) (g) of the Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa establishes the right to family planning education and in article 14 (2) (a), the Protocol establishes the obligation of States to provide adequate, affordable and accessible health services, including information, education and communication programmes for women, especially those in rural areas. C. Other international standards and initiatives of relevance to the human right to comprehensive sexual education 38. The right to comprehensive sexual education is also confirmed by recommendations and declarations of international bodies, as well as by documents reflecting the global consensus among States. 35 For example, the Programme of Action adopted by the International Conference on Population and Development recognizes that sexual and reproductive health education must begin in primary school and continue through all levels of formal and non-formal education.3 The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) has found that sexual education is more effective if given prior to first intercourse. 36 The World Health Organization (WHO) believes that it is crucial for sexual education to start early, especially in developing countries. 37 The Organization has also provided specific guidance on how to incorporate sexual education into school curricula and recommends that sexual education should constitute a separate subject, rather than being incorporated into other subjects. 38 In addition, comprehensive sexual education is a basic tool for achieving many of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), such as promoting gender equality and empowering women (Goal 3), reducing child mortality (Goal 4), improving maternal health (Goal 5) and combating HIV/AIDS (Goal 6). 39. The European Committee of Social Rights set important standards on the right to sexual education in a landmark decision. 39 The Committee decided that States parties to the European Social Charter were required to provide sexual education to young people on a scientific and non-discriminatory basis without censoring, withholding or intentionally misrepresenting information, for example as regards contraception. The Committee recommended that such education should be provided throughout the entire period of schooling and stated that education in sexual and reproductive health should be designed to develop the capacity of children and young people to understand their sexuality in its biological and cultural dimensions, which would enable them to take responsible decisions with regard to sexual and reproductive health behaviour. In its decision, the Committee expressed the view __________________ 35 36 37 38 39 10-46213 World Health Organization, Family Life, Reproductive Health, and Population Education, Key Elements of a Health-Promoting School, Information Series on School Health; Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), Intensifying HIV Prevention, UNAIDS Policy Position Paper 33 (2005); Cairo Programme of Action, para. 7.5 (a). UNAIDS, Impact of HIV and sexual health education on the sexual behaviour of young people, a review update, 2007. See World Health Organization, Adolescent Pregnancy Report, 2004. See World Health Organization, Family Life, Reproductive Health, and Population Education, Key Elements of a Health-Promoting School, Information Series on School Health. European Committee of Social Rights, International Center for the Legal Protection of Human Rights (INTERIGHTS) v. Croatia, Complaint No. 45/2007. 11