CitizenLink – September 3, 2010
Unlikely Partners: Chinese Province Teaches Focus on the Family’s Abstinence Curriculum

Despite the nation’s atheism and suspicious nature, China’s Yunnan education ministry has embraced Focus on the Family’s abstinence and marriage education materials, to help manage the country’s shifting sexual mores and skyrocketing divorce rate.

Nevertheless, “safe sex” advocates, including the U.S. State Department, the United Nations and liberal sex groups are pouring millions into China to implement “safe-sex” programs and media messaging to sway teens away from the abstinence courses. Notwithstanding the opposition, Focus on the Family has reached nearly 3 million teens worldwide, including Africa the Middle East and the Asia Pacific region.

Valerie Huber, executive director of National Abstinence Education Association, said the teaching of abstinence education overseas is paradoxical. “We have found a little bit surprising that it’s actually much easier to implement abstinence education in other countries – even with a faith-based message,” Huber said, “than it is here in the United States.” South Africa and Russia are prime examples. “Much of the sex education in South Africa has a faith perspective, even in the public school systems there,” she added.

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