A campaign to promote safe sex
through the use of condoms among high risk groups has again erupted into a heated debate. Again, the allegedly distribution
of free condom around university grounds and exploitation of obnoxious and sensuous
image to advertise the campaign drew ire. Influential religious and conservative groups alike have come out in chorus accusing
it to promote pre-marital sex.
It’s like
watching a bad drama recurring. Related parties seem to suffer an annual
amnesia since the inception of the program in 2007.
As always it
makes the adults fume and adolescents squirm. It weathers storms and face of
thunders in widespread public controversy.
The intention is noble, to prevent the spread of
the killer virus, HIV/AIDS, which according to 2012 statistics, there are
591,823 people living with HIV in Indonesia. Not to mention that Indonesia is
listed as one of the nine countries where HIV continued to rise steadily, with
new infections increasing by more than 25% between 2001 and 2011 according to
the 2012 Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).
It is also
noteworthy that youths constitute 30% of the people most at risk, including sex
workers, sexual minorities and people who inject drugs. Thus, these groups are
targets of the campaign.
Trying to find a solution for this
dreadful epidemic poses daunting and challenging task in the world’s most
populous Muslim nation. It spreads far more quickly through sexual intercourse
rather than drug use. The government is doing what it can to stem the spread of
the virus up to supporting the use of condom despite constant rejection from
religious and conservative groups.
In regards of this issue, I support
promoting the use of condom among ‘high-risk
groups, particularly for commercial sexual workers as their work is closely
associated with the killer virus;
but
not to the general population. Whether we like it or not, sexual
transactions are still rampant all across the archipelago and it is almost
impossible to stop the lucrative business.
Nonetheless, the
question remains at
large on how to promote the campaign with less provocative poster
and measures (as in distributing condom for free within educational premises or
appointing sensuous artists as condom ambassador!) so that it is
well-targeted the people most at risk especially among sexual
workers. What’s more is whether free condom distribution among these high risk
groups including youths is more effective and the best way over abstaining from
sex to prevent the disease?
In my personal
view, education is vital key to raise
public awareness of the killer virus. Thus, extensive and continous public education
about the devastating effects of HIV should widely be advocated.
As well as educating the public, promoting and
supporting abstinence for they yet-to marry and faithfulness among the married
is the best option in Indonesia which adheres to religious beliefs and eastern
values.
It maddens me
to think that those unfaithful husbands would cheat on their wives with
multiple sexual partners, flagged their
free condoms and flashed their Cheshire cat smile, saying, “Look, this way I
can prevent infecting my wive against
all forms of sexually transmitted diseases.”
Well, that’s the least worse
scenario if they still have regards for their wives’ health. Most often their
selfish twisted interest prompted them to reject using one!
What an
infuriating joke! Women always become easy preys to such irresponsible and depraved
predators.
Meanwhile proper
sex education should be introduced to youths instead of telling them to use
condoms whenever they feel ‘this most natural urge.’ It is definitely better to
educate them of the horrific risks associated with having sex at a young age
outside of wedlock and to streghten their
religious values.
The amount of free condoms available
during the campaign undoubtedly means that these teenagers are being inundated
with reminders of sex. It means they are quickly warped into a cauldron in
which sex is placed at the epicenter instead of abstinence.
My sanity screams aloud on what kind
of a message is this campaign of encouraging condom use among them? Is it
really necessary? How can anyone argue that this kind of overtly explicit
message is not harmful? It is objectively telling teenagers it’s OK to have sex
as long as you have condom as protection as if shoving condoms into their
pockets under their noses.
Even to the
most liberal thinkers in this country, I don’t think there would come the time when they
could sit and talk
heart to heart with their daughters and sons and said,
“Son, listen carefully. We know that
pre-marital sex is haram (forbidden) and promiscuity
is severely punished according to our religion. But, you are young and sex is
the most natural and alluring thing. So, when you have the most natural urge of
having sex, never forget to use condom to prevent getting sexual diseases!”
Hello! We’re in Indonesia not in one
of Hollywood’s movies and soap operas!
Yes, pre-marital sex is on the rise
in cities around the country. But it doesn’t mean providing them accessible
condoms would stop them from harming themselves. It is not even the root of the
problem.
So, urging
youths to use condoms is like encouraging them to have pre-marital sex the same
as giving them a gun at point-blank without any guidance.
Would it be wiser to give our youths
ammunitions of moral wisdom, religious values and guidance to enable them
making wiser choices in their life as they grow up. They have the unbridled
opportunity to discover who they are as people and who they want to be.
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