RSU joins expert group of WHO collaborating centre

Federal Centre for Health Education (BZgA) in Cologne (Germany) is the collaborating centre for the World Health Organization (WHO) since 1983. For the last 15 years the main focus of the centre’s activities has been sexual and reproductive health education. A number of documents developed under the guidance of this WHO collaborating centre are well known in Europe and elsewhere.

The Federal Centre for Health Education has conducted numerous public health studies in Germany, likewise international studies in collaboration with the WHO, the UN Development Programme (UNFPA), International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) and other organisations. 2017 marked the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). To proceed with the future practical implementation of the convention, from 22 to 23 February a group of international experts under the guidance of BZgA started work on the development of new documents for assessing and improving the sexual education of young people with disabilities.

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Health education plays a vital role in retaining and improving public health. For many years Estonia has been taking the leading position in sexual education not only among the Baltic States, but even Europe-wide. In the meeting of experts, RSU was represented by Prof. Gunta Lazdāne, who received an invitation to join the international expert group of BZgA, considering her experience in the area of sexual and reproductive health in Europe. The cooperation between RSU and BZgA will be a chance to participate in joint international research projects and take over the experience of other countries in this so complex but vital field.