ADVOCATES FOR YOUTH

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July 2005 update on new publications, actions you can take, and more!

Advocates for Youth's e-News Update

Stop Government Censorship in Hollywood

Take Positive Action for Responsible Television (Take P.A.R.T.) to support accurate sexual health information and positive images on television.

Government intimidation of Hollywood has made many networks nervous about providing sexual health information and storylines in their programming. Some have begun to censor themselves—concerned about the ambiguity of FCC regulations and fearful of the tactics of an administration intent on promoting ignorance to keep young people from engaging in sex before marriage. But, many in Hollywood have had the courage to take a stand!

This month The Media Project and Advocates for Youth recognize Point of View and Grey's Anatomy for their honest, accurate depictions of adolescent sexual health on TV. Write to the broadcasters and the FCC to express your support of accurate sexual health information on television. Tell these shows you support and applaud their efforts!

• Point of View aired "The Education of Shelby Knox," offering viewers an honest, straightforward look at the sex education controversy in a conservative Texas town.
• Grey's Anatomy's "Who's Zoomin' Who?" sensitively and humorously depicted one person telling a sexual partner about a newly diagnosed sexually transmitted infection.

How Can I Talk About ...? Emergency Contraception

Advocates for Youth recognizes a need for useful information to help colleagues talk about important issues playing out in the media each and every day. These analyses and talking points provide helpful facts and context relating to adolescent sexual health issues currently in the news.

This month Advocates focuses on emergency contraception (EC), a hot-button issue for the last few years and one that continues to rise in priority on the anti-family planning groups’ agenda. Additionally, EC will remain on the radar screen with news stories and issues related to pharmacies’ provision of EC, the FDA’s decisions regarding EC, and statements from highly regarded medical associations regarding adolescents and EC. Read Advocates' analysis and talking points related to emergency contraception online at http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/news/talkingpoints/ec.htm

American Academy of Pediatrics Report Says Teens Need Access to Contraception

Teens need access to contraception to reduce rates of teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease, according to a report issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The recommendations advise physicians to encourage teens to delay sexual activity, while also ensuring all teens, regardless of their sexual activity, have access to contraception, including emergency contraception. The recommendations advise against abstinence-only-until-marriage programs. The statement "abstinence counseling is an important role for all pediatricians," part of the AAP's 1998 teen pregnancy policy, was removed. Read the full report online at http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/116/1/281

To get the facts about adolescents' reliance on abstinence and/or contraceptives, including condoms, read Advocates' two-page fact sheet online at http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/publications/factsheet/fsprotective.htm

Youth's Reproductive Health and the Millennium Development Goals

Five years ago, the leaders of 189 countries came together at the Millennium Summit and pledged to: eliminate poverty; create a climate for sustainable development; and ensure human rights, peace, and security for the entire world's people. Eight overarching Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) measure progress towards this vision. None of the MDGs explicitly references youth's reproductive health, even though its relationship to alleviating poverty cannot be overlooked. Two new publications from Advocates for Youth examine youth's reproductive health and the MDGs:

• Youth's Reproductive Health: Key to Achieving the Millennium Development Goals at the Country Level, online at http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/publications/iag/millenniumgoalscountry.htm 
• Youth's Reproductive Health Targets Must Be Included in the Millennium Declaration, online at http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/publications/iag/millenniumdeclaration.htm

You can help Advocates for Youth with a contribution today. To donate, visit http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/about/donatetoday.htm

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