School year

Ages

Area of knowledge: World views, philosophy and psychology

Second year

13–14 years of age

Sexual culture: Sex, sexuality and sexual relations

–Concept of sexuality and its presence in the main cultures of Bolivia

–Difference between sex, sexuality and sexual relations or intercourse

–Responsibility of fathers and mothers in sexual relations among adolescents

–Sexually transmitted infections and how they are dealt with in major Bolivian cultures

–How does philosophy approach issues of sexuality in Bolivian society and culture?

–Comprehensive adolescent health

–Individual, family and community health care

–Reproduction, growth and development

–Sexuality, consequences and high-risk behaviour

–Consequences of the use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs

Fifth year

15–16 years of age

Continuity of life: Reproduction and development

Types of reproduction in living beings

–Sex cells and gametogenesis

–Anatomy and physiology of the male and female reproductive organs

–Fertilization and pregnancy

–Embryonic and fetal development

–Care, diet and nutrition of pregnant women and nursing mothers

–Child development

–Comprehensive and community sexual and reproductive health

–Gender equity and equality in responsible sexuality

–Birth control: natural, hormonal, barrier and permanent contraceptive methods

–Prevention of teenage pregnancy

–Abortion: biological, psychological, social, cultural and ethical aspects

–Sexually transmitted diseases, AIDS and HIV

20.The Ministry of Health, in coordination with the National Institute of Statistics, has published the results of the most recent demographic and health survey (2016), which includes a chapter on the knowledge and use of contraceptive methods. Among the main findings is the fact that 95.7 per cent of women between 15 and 49 years of age know one or more methods for preventing unwanted pregnancies. However, 53.7 per cent of these women do not use any. When disaggregated by age, the statistics show that the segment that uses contraceptive methods the most is that of women aged 35 to 39 years, of whom 64.6 per cent use some method, with 21 per cent using traditional methods and 43.6 per cent modern ones; the figures are similar for other age segments.

21.In addition, a comparison between the 2016 results and those of the previous demographic and health survey of 2008 revealed that there was a slight decrease in the percentage of women who are not using any method (down from 58.6 per cent in 2008 to 53.7 per cent in 2016), and also a slight decrease in the number of those who choose traditional methods (from 17.4 per cent to 14 per cent)

22.The Ministry of Health reported that male and female condoms, intrauterine devices, implants, contraceptive pills and the morning after pill are distributed free of charge in all public health facilities. The current challenge is to continue the campaigns to raise awareness of the use of contraceptive methods.

23.With regard to the legal provisions on abortion, section 266 of the Criminal Code establishes three grounds for the decriminalization of abortion:

When abortion has been the result of rape, abduction not followed by marriage, statutory rape or incest, no punishment shall be applied, provided that a criminal prosecution has been initiated. Similarly, no punishment shall be applied if the abortion was performed to avoid endangering the mother’s life or health and if this danger could not be avoided by other means. In both cases, the abortion must be performed by a doctor, with the consent of the woman and with judicial authorization, where applicable.

24.A significant amendment was made to this section in 2014. Plurinational Constitutional Court ruling No. 0206/2014 of 5 February 2014 stipulates as follows:

The procedure relating to the mandatory and binding implementation of section 266 of the Criminal Code (as amended) provides that, for the purposes of the applicability and effectiveness of this legislative provision, and in accordance with the supreme law, the provision in question shall be interpreted in the sense that there shall be no requirement for the filing of a lawsuit, or the existence of a formal accusation and indictment, let alone a ruling. It shall be sufficient for a woman to go to a public or private health centre in order to have an abortion if the pregnancy is the result of the commission of a crime, and to inform the competent public authority of her situation so that the medical professional will have sufficient evidence to justify performing the abortion.

This will prevent any delay in judicial proceedings from jeopardizing the protection of the rights of the pregnant woman to her freedom or dignity and avoid belated or unnecessary proceedings.

25.Moreover, since February 2017, the Plurinational Legislative Assembly has been debating draft law No. 122/2017-2018 on the Criminal Code. The draft law includes the redesign of judicial institutions on the basis of the outcome of the 2016 national plural justice summit and addresses, inter alia, considerations regarding the expansion of grounds for decriminalized abortion.

26.Once the work of the Plurinational Legislative Assembly has been finalized and the new Criminal Code has been adopted in all relevant bodies, the outcome will be included in the next report to the Committee.

27.Lastly, it should be noted that Bolivian Women’s Day has been marked every 11 October since 1980 in memory of the poet Adela Zamudio (1854–1928), who is considered the first Bolivian feminist to denounce the lack of equal rights. That occasion highlights the role of women in the country’s development and the importance of continuing to strengthen the fight against all forms of discrimination against women.

28.The Plurinational State of Bolivia will continue to fulfil its international commitments by reporting to the Committee when required to do so in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.