Indonesia wants to provide contraceptives to students, critics say plan undermines values

Indonesia’s plan to distribute contraceptives to teenagers has elicited mixed reactions, with some praising it as a necessary preventive measure while critics warn it could undermine the country’s conservative cultural and religious values.

The country’s health ministry recently introduced the contraceptive distribution plan, which was an update to health regulations to improve students’ understanding of reproductive health.

Through the new policy, the government is also planning to offer counselling services, early detections of sexually transmitted diseases, treatments for reproductive health issues and access to contraceptives for students and teenagers. It has not specified how and where contraceptives would be distributed.

However, the plan has faced significant backlash from civil society organisations, including education and teachers’ groups, as well as religious groups.

In response to the controversy, Mohammad Syahril, a health ministry spokesman, clarified last month that the new regulation would prioritise educating teenagers about reproductive health and proper use of contraceptives but they would only be provided to those who are already married.