We should advocate an open conversation on the topic for a healthier future.
Fiji is still very much conservative.
We uphold and preserve our traditional institutions, practices, and values at heart.
Therefore, just the mere term of sex, let alone sex education, is considered taboo.
Therein lies the danger and our downfall as parents and adults.
The Ra Provincial Council meeting was an opportune time for its chair, Manoa Seru, to advocate on the importance of families to hold frank and open discussions on the topic.
His comments come amid statistics where 1299 cases of teenage pregnancy were recorded between 2018 and 2020. Of that, 1059 of the cases were iTaukei.
Mr Seru said he was prompted to discuss the topic at a forum as such because he understood how creating dialogue could create a positive outcome.
Teenage pregnancy is a serious issue. These girls miss out on living one of the best phases in their lives and instead carry the weight of becoming parents.
Most turn out to be single mothers because the father of the child does not wish to take responsibility or, in worse case scenarios, the poor little girl was sexually abused.
How they got themselves into those situations, be the former or latter, must also be open for discussion.
But before fixing what’s broken, we can prevent these scenarios if we openly talk about sex and its boundaries at home.
Setting up family time during the week is a start.
Mothers or mother figures can talk to their daughters. The same goes for fathers and father figures.
Parents and guardians should let their young ones know of the boundaries, the impacts, and dangers of having a stranger or person you know touch you in an inappropriate manner.
When that happens, the child must know that they shouldn’t keep it a secret and they will not be punished reassuring them that it’s okay to talk about it.
Mr Seru also pointed out another downfall with some parents today. Many prefer to build their social status over parenting.
Attending social gatherings, leaving behind their little ones in the care of someone they think they trust are signs of bad parenting.
He encourages one parent to at least be responsible while the other attends. But only when it is absolutely necessary.
As much as his advice appears practical, both parents and guardians must, by all means, be emotionally and physically available for their young ones whenever possible.
This builds a foundation of trust and security for the child creating an exceptional example to live by in future.
Furthermore, open, and honest discussions about sex foster a healthy understanding of their bodies, relationship, and consent.
Parents and guardians can create a safe space for questions, drowning out myths and address concerns.
By teaching respect, boundaries and communication, families contribute to the overall wellbeing and informed decision-making of their children.
This as they begin to undergo the complexities of adolescence and adulthood.
Story By: RANOBA BAOA
Feedback: ranobab@fijisun.com.fj