Young people do have the responsibility to postpone early sexual involvement and to protect themselves and their partners when they do become sexually active. But responsibility is a two-way street. Society needs to provide young people with the tools the information, health care, family support. Parent-child communication about sex and discussion of values is critically important. And then there s respect.
Young people deserve respect.
Their value exceeds the sum of their risk factors. They re real people with real needs and something important to say. As a result we tend to devalue their thoughts, experiences, and needs. The point is this. This needs to change.