Rights Coalition Challenges ‘Dangerous’ Claims Against Sex Education

Rights Coalition Challenges ‘Dangerous’ Claims Against Sex Education

By Lincoln G. Peters

Monrovia, Liberia — August 26, 2026 — The Coalition of Families Rights Defenders has strongly rejected what it describes as misinformation and ideological attacks against Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) in Liberia, urging the government to base national policy on scientific evidence, public health needs and human rights obligations.

In a press statement Thursday, the coalition, comprising human rights advocates, health professionals, educators and youth representatives, said it was responding to claims made during the Strengthening Families Conference held in Monrovia on June 19–20, 2026.

The coalition said the conference was used to promote what it characterized as “dangerous” misinformation about sexuality education, arguing that such claims could undermine programs designed to protect children and young people from sexual abuse, unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections.

The group described CSE as a rights-based, age-appropriate and curriculum-led approach that addresses the cognitive, emotional, physical and social aspects of sexuality.

According to the coalition, CSE should not be viewed as an external imposition but as part of modern public health and education systems aimed at equipping young people with accurate information and skills to make informed decisions.

The coalition cited United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) data indicating that 85 percent of 155 surveyed governments have policies or laws relating to sexuality education.

It also pointed to regional commitments in Africa, including frameworks endorsed by countries in Eastern and Southern Africa and West and Central Africa.

The group argued that Liberia should focus less on whether CSE should exist and more on how it can be implemented in ways that are age-appropriate, culturally relevant, evidence-based and responsive to Liberia’s health and education needs.

The coalition further cited a February 2026 Afrobarometer report, which it said showed majority support among Liberians for women’s autonomy in reproductive decisions, sexuality education in schools and keeping pregnant girls in school.

It also highlighted Liberia’s maternal health and sexual violence challenges as reasons for strengthening, rather than weakening, sexuality education.

The coalition cited United Nations estimates placing Liberia’s maternal mortality ratio at approximately 742 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023. It also referenced national health surveillance data reporting more than 150 maternal deaths in 2025.

The statement further cited government figures showing that 2,759 rape cases were reported nationwide in 2024, with 1,902, or 68.7 percent, occurring in Montserrado County. Between January and September 2025, the coalition said, 1,735 rape cases had already been recorded.

The group also pointed to Liberia’s high adolescent birth rate, estimated at about 130 births per 1,000 girls aged 15–19, arguing that the figures demonstrate the need for effective strategies to prevent unintended pregnancies and protect adolescents.

“These statistics are not merely numbers; they represent lives disrupted, educational opportunities lost, and families devastated,” the coalition said, maintaining that CSE is not responsible for Liberia’s sexual and reproductive health challenges.

Instead, it argued that properly implemented sexuality education can help young people prevent unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections, recognize and report abuse, and make informed decisions about their health and relationships.

The coalition also rejected claims reportedly made at the Strengthening Families Conference that sex education does not reduce unwanted pregnancies or sexually transmitted infections, saying such assertions conflict with findings from international health and education institutions, including the World Health Organization, UNESCO and UNFPA.

The group raised particular concerns about the involvement of foreign organizations in discussions surrounding sexuality education and reproductive rights in Liberia.

It identified the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a sponsor of the Strengthening Families Conference and said presentations included contributions from Family Watch International (FWI), a U.S.-based organization that the coalition described as having been designated a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

The coalition said Greg Slater, identified as a co-founder of Family Watch International and the conference’s final speaker, argued against comprehensive sexuality education and promoted abstinence-focused approaches.

It accused U.S.-based organizations of increasingly using “family values” conferences across Africa to challenge reproductive rights and evidence-based sexuality education.

According to the coalition, similar conferences have been held in Uganda, Kenya, Sierra Leone and Ghana, with Liberia becoming another venue for the debate.

The group alleged that such campaigns often portray human rights as incompatible with African values while promoting policies it considers restrictive to women, girls and marginalized communities.

The coalition also accused organizations such as Family Watch International of using the language of human rights and child protection to oppose programs intended to safeguard children.

It argued that children should receive age-appropriate education on consent, bodily autonomy, sexual abuse prevention and accurate health information.

“Denying them this information does not protect them; it endangers them,” the coalition said.

The group called on the Government of Liberia to carefully review recommendations emerging from the Strengthening Families Conference and ensure that any resulting policies are consistent with the Liberian Constitution, national development priorities, public health objectives and international human rights commitments.

It further urged policymakers to reject recommendations that are not supported by credible scientific evidence or that could reverse progress made in advancing the health, education and rights of women, girls and young people.

The coalition said national policies should instead be developed through meaningful consultations involving Liberian health professionals, educators, women’s organizations, youth representatives and other relevant stakeholders.

“Protecting families requires strengthening access to accurate information, quality education, and healthcare,” the coalition said, arguing that safeguarding children should not come at the expense of evidence-based public health programs.

The group concluded by urging Liberians not to be influenced by foreign organizations claiming to define African values, insisting that Liberians themselves should determine how best to protect their children while drawing on credible scientific evidence.

 

“Comprehensive Sexuality Education is not a threat to families,” the coalition said. “It is an investment in healthy, informed, and empowered young people who can build stronger families and communities.”