By: Umme Kulsum
June 12 2023
No, WHO and the U.N. are not encouraging children to have sex partners
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Fact-Check
The Verdict False
The U.N. published a set of guidelines on sexual education for children. It does not state anywhere that "children must have sexual partners."
Claim ID 5e056723
Context
Posts on social media claim that the United Nations is methodically sexualizing young children. One Facebook post includes a video explanation of a story from the website "Stop World Control," which claims that U.N. agencies are asking schools to "equip children to have sexual partners" and are promoting pedophilia. The website attributes the story to a 2018 document published by the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA), a U.N. agency aimed at improving reproductive and maternal health worldwide. However, the document makes no mention of children having sexual partners.
In Fact
After an investigation, Logically Facts found the original U.N. document cited in the story by Stop World Control. It was revealed that the document titled "International technical guidance on sexuality education" was released in 2018 and is a revised version of the original 2009 guide. The document emphasizes "comprehensive sexuality education." It "aims to equip children and young people with knowledge, skills, attitudes and values that will empower them to: realise their health, well-being and dignity; develop respectful social and sexual relationships; consider how their choices affect their own well-being and that of others; and, understand and ensure the protection of their rights throughout their lives." There is no mention of children being encouraged to have sexual partners or normalizing pedophilia. The long texts in the U.N. document were taken out of context to fit a false narrative.
While the document does include sexuality education standards for children and young people, a thorough investigation into the U.N. document reveals." This document by UNFPA was created in collaboration with other U.N. agencies, including UNAIDS, WHO, UNICEF, and U.N. WOMEN.
Stop World Control is a website that pushes conspiracy theories. The article bears a false and misleading headline, "Schools must equip children to have sexual partners - say the U.N. and WHO," and cites a UNPFA document. After comparing the U.N. document with the article in question, it was also noted that a selective presentation and paraphrasing of wording from the original document was used to depict a false or incorrect interpretation of the guidelines. Moreover, the "About Us" page of the website says it's "a tool to awaken humanity to the globalist agenda of world tyranny" and contains conspiracy theory narratives such as The Great Reset, Agenda 2030, and Agenda 21. Logically Facts has previously debunked a story published by the questionable website that claimed, "WEF promotes pedophilia."
Additionally, Logically Facts discovered no statement, news release, or article confirming that WHO or U.N. encourages children to have sex partners.
We have contacted UNFPA for a comment; this article will be updated after we receive a response. We have also reached out to WHO for a comment on this claim.
Verdict
The viral post wrongly claims that the U.N. is encouraging or promoting young people to have sex partners; the document discussed on the website in question does not mention normalizing pedophilia or has a quote, "Children must have sexual partners." The claim is unfounded. Therefore, we have marked this claim as false.