Bandung, 10 November 2024 — Yayasan Gemilang Sehat Indonesia (YGSI) proudly announced its participation in the inaugural International Conference on Special Education and Diversity (ICSED), held in Bandung on 7 November 2024. Under the theme “Promoting Inclusivity in Sexual and Reproductive Health Education for Children with Special Needs,” the conference served as a platform to explore innovative solutions and best practices for delivering inclusive sexual and reproductive health education that effectively accommodates the diverse needs of children with disabilities.
YGSI’s participation reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring equal access to Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) for all individuals, including persons with visual, hearing, and intellectual disabilities. This commitment is in line with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), ratified by Indonesia through Law No. 19 of 2011, which underscores the importance of equitable access to information and healthcare services, including sexual and reproductive health services, free from discrimination.
“At YGSI, we believe that inclusive sexual and reproductive health education is a fundamental right for every individual, including persons with disabilities. Our participation in ICSED 2024 marks an important step toward expanding the implementation of Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) programmes and ensuring that this education is equitably accessible across educational institutions,” said Ely Sawitri, Director of YGSI.
According to data from Statistics Indonesia, more than 30 million persons with disabilities live in Indonesia and continue to face significant barriers in accessing relevant information and healthcare services. In response to these challenges, YGSI has implemented Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) programmes across multiple levels of education, including in seven special needs schools (Sekolah Luar Biasa/SLB), involving 35 partner teachers and 29 parents. The initiative has also been implemented at Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, reaching 164 university students and 73 students with disabilities.
YGSI has also developed a range of adapted knowledge products and disability-inclusive learning modules. One notable example is the educational video “Disa, Bili, dan Tasnya” (“Disa, Bili, and the Bag”), which employs a simple visual approach to explain topics such as body anatomy, puberty, and personal safety for persons with disabilities. In addition, YGSI has produced a Teacher’s Guidebook for Delivering Adolescent Reproductive Health Education for Visually and Hearing-Impaired Junior Secondary Students as well as a Teacher and Parent Module on Sexual and Reproductive Health Education for Adolescents with Intellectual Disabilities.
Furthermore, YGSI has collaborated with Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia in developing the handbook Managing Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) Courses for Universities with Special Needs Education Programmes. This initiative reflects a broader effort to institutionalise CSE as an integral component of higher education, particularly in preparing future educators who will work with children with special needs.
At Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) has already been incorporated as a compulsory subject within the Department of Special Needs Education under the Faculty of Educational Sciences. The initiative has resulted in the publication of 32 research articles and 61 undergraduate theses, further strengthening the position of CSE as a critical component of higher education. YGSI hopes that this model can be adopted by more universities across Indonesia, ensuring equitable access to sexual and reproductive health education for all persons with disabilities.
Dr. Endang, a representative of Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, underscored the importance of this collaboration, stating, “We are proud to collaborate with YGSI in integrating Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) into UPI’s compulsory curriculum. This initiative not only enhances students’ understanding, but also expands the positive impact of sexual and reproductive health education for persons with disabilities at the community level.”
Through its participation in ICSED 2024, YGSI reaffirmed that inclusive sexual and reproductive health education is a fundamental human right for all individuals, as stipulated under Article 25 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Through this conference, YGSI aims to raise public awareness and encourage cross-sector collaboration in advancing education systems that respect the rights and needs of persons with disabilities, while fostering a more inclusive and equitable society.
Joana Lamptey, a representative of Rutgers Netherlands, added, “Our support for YGSI’s initiatives reflects our commitment to advancing equitable and sustainable education. This collaboration demonstrates how international partnerships can create innovative educational solutions for persons with disabilities.”
Through its engagement in ICSED 2024, YGSI hopes to create further opportunities for collaboration and inspire more institutions to adopt and implement Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) across educational settings in Indonesia, particularly within institutions that offer special education curricula.
The International Conference on Special Education and Diversity (ICSED) was organised in response to the urgent need to strengthen awareness and understanding of the importance of inclusivity in sexual and reproductive health education for children with special needs. The conference brought together educators, researchers, policymakers, students, and organisations working in the fields of education and health.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Indira Susatio
Communications and Knowledge Management Manager
Yayasan Gemilang Sehat Indonesia
Phone: +62 812 8181 3033
Email: indira@gemilangsehat.org
