Jaevion Nelson is a youth development, HIV and human rights advocate here in Kingston. I have had the pleasure of working with him in his capacity as an employee of a non-profit organization on some communications-related issues. Jaevion also writes a weekly column for the Jamaica Gleaner. This week’s column highlights the ever-present tensions of a society dominated by Christian values and a popular culture obsessed with sexuality, violence and materialism.

Here is an excerpt of the column, but I suggest you read the entire thing to get a sense of the issues facing Jamaica’s young people.

What is the purpose of an education if not to equip us with information to exist with dignity as ‘decent’ people? Instruction about sex and sexuality is just as important as mathematics, English language and science. We can’t just leave everything up to informal learning and then complain about the so called lack of values and attitudes in society, particularly among the younger generation. Many of us do not realise that our political leaders are to an extent informed about what policy actions are necessary to address the situation with our adolescents where sex and sexuality are concerned. Why else would they commit to the 2008 Mexico City Ministerial Declaration around investing in comprehensive sexuality education and increased access to health services for young people?