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Notes
1. Between March 2012 and August 2013, the author coordinated a group of experts appointed by the Croatian Agency for Education, tasked with designing a comprehensive sexuality education module – one of four modules in the health education curriculum currently taught in Croatian primary and secondary schools.
2. In this Commentary, CSE refers to programmes which usually start in primary school and continue throughout secondary school, and are not restricted to abstinence, faithfulness and condom-use promotion, as are most HIV-prevention programmes. To assist in the development of healthy personal and interpersonal skills and respect for individual autonomy, different choices and gender equality, CSE includes a positive perspective and complete, scientifically accurate and developmentally appropriate information on human sexuality (Braeken and Cardinal Citation2008; Herrman et al. Citation2013). CSE also often covers sexual abuse and victimisation prevention and critically assesses popular media presentations of sexuality (including sexually explicit material).
3. The suggestion from several experts who took part in developing the CSE module, that parents (of primary school students) should be allowed to withdraw their children from CSE classes – which would probably have defused the protests – was ignored by the minister.
4. I suspect that the term ‘holistic sexuality education’ is intended to counter this accusation. Interestingly, the same term has been used with increased frequency by those opposed to the Croatian health and sexuality education programme to suggest an abstinence-focused alternative.
5. In addition to frequently presenting scientifically inaccurate information about condoms and other contraceptive devices and methods, abstinence-only education raises substantial ethical and human rights concerns (Santelli Citation2008; Santelli et al. Citation2006).