Rutgers and Partners Advance Inclusive Sexuality Education Through RHRN Program

By: David Joseph Kasule 

Rutgers, under the Right Here Right Now (RHRN) program, hosted an engaging session titled “Scaling Up Without Leaving Out: Making Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) Work for All,” bringing together youth advocates, educators, and partner organizations to share experiences and strategies for strengthening CSE implementation across diverse contexts.

The session provided a collaborative platform for partners to showcase their innovative approaches to promoting comprehensive sexuality education, emphasizing inclusivity, scalability, and political sensitivity.

Through open dialogue, participants reflected on what it means to ensure that all young people—regardless of background, gender, or identity—have access to accurate, empowering, and rights-based sexual health information.

The interactive breakaway sessions enriched the discussions.

The first, “Formulating Politically Acceptable Messages for CSE,” focused on how to effectively communicate CSE within varying political and cultural landscapes while maintaining core human rights principles.

Participants explored techniques for reframing CSE narratives to gain policy support and community acceptance.

The session, of “Designing Inclusive CSE Models for Scale,” examined how innovative models can be adapted to reach more young people, particularly those in marginalized communities. Participants shared successful examples of integrating CSE into formal education systems and community programs using digital tools, partnerships, and advocacy-driven approaches.

Speaking at the event, Rutgers representatives reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to ensuring that scaling up CSE does not exclude anyone.

“Comprehensive Sexuality Education is a pathway to empowerment, equality, and healthy futures for all young people,” they emphasized.

The discussions concluded with a strong call for continued collaboration, investment, and evidence-based advocacy to make CSE accessible, inclusive, and sustainable worldwide