देश
Govt Condom ads ban wise on censorship; Curtails HIV-AIDS awareness, restricts sex education
Lack of knowledge and poor awareness amongst people is a barrier in achieving the target of zero HIV/AIDS infection by the year 2020. Condoms are the cheapest and most convenient mode of protection against sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancy.
And with the latest order issued by the Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry to ban the broadcast of condoms commercials from 6 am to 10 pm may not help in reducing the stigma and discrimination associated with the disease.
In the light of increasing access, the ministry has issued a directive following “complaints” regarding their adverse impact on kids and teenagers.
The I&B ministry has cited the Cable Network Rules of 1994 that bars advertisements that “create in them [children] any interest in unhealthy practices”.
Not to forget that advertisements are the greatest source of information not only for adults but also for teenagers. It will be a mistake on the government’s part to impose a blanket ban on ads. If they feel that condom ads are leading people towards experimentation and sex, then they are wrong.
Sex Education
Its high time that sex education should be imparted to children as young as 10 in order to curb unwanted early pregnancies, unsafe abortions, maternal deaths and STDs across the world.
According to researchers at the Georgetown University, parents should shed their inhibition and talk to their young adolescents about sexual matters as young as age of 10.
Researchers say that sexuality begins emerging in ‘younger adolescents’, defined as those between 10 to 14 and this is the time when a kid may first experience changes in their body and start experimenting with sexual behaviours, ‘wallstreetotc.com’ reported.
In case these the kids are not well informed about safe sex, they may take uncalled for and fatal risks, researchers said.
India is the third largest country with HIV prevalence. Also use of condoms is considered as a taboo in some parts of culturaly vast country.
HIV/AIDS report:
According to a National Family Health Survey (NFHS) report, in 2005-06, 28.5 per cent women in India had knowledge about HIV/AIDS. The awareness increased marginally in the year 2015 as 34.6% knew about the disease. The report also stated that 30.3 percent Indian men knew about HIV/AIDS in the year 2005-06, which increased to 41.9 percent in 2015-16.
The report also added that from 2008 HIV infection has decreased to 66 percent and the number of deaths by 54 per cent. India reports 86,000 infections and about 67,000 deaths every year due to the disease.
AIDS claimed a million lives in 2016, almost half the 2005 toll that marked the peak of the deadly epidemic, said a UN report.
The year 2016 saw 1.8 million new infections, almost half the record number of some 3.5 million in 1997, said the report.
In total, 76.1 million people have been infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, since the epidemic started in the 1980s. Some 35 million have died.
Also, no sharp decline has been reported in the past two to three years and this is a major barrier in accomplishing the target.
NCPCR welcomes ban on condom ads on TV between 6 am-10 pm:
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) on Tuesday welcomed the order of the government asking television channels not to air condom advertisement between 6 am and 10 pm.
“We have received complaints regarding condom advertisements showing inappropriate content. We welcome the decision of the government,” NCPCR chairperson Stuti Kacker told PTI. The ministry said that it was brought to its notice that some channels carry advertisements of condoms repeatedly whichare alleged to be indecent, especially for children.
