Right to Sexual and Reproductive Health Education 2016 Executive Summary This study is the first Sexual and Reproductive Health Education (SRHE) research conducted using a rights‐based approach by the Human Rights Commission of Maldives (HRCM). The research assessed the availability and accessibility of SRH information and education to students, youth, and adults to evaluate policies, strategies and programmes that have been carried out in the Maldives in relation to SRHE. Initial information and literature was collected from secondary resources such as reports from both national and international sources, review papers, and statistical data from relevant agencies. In addition to this, stakeholder meetings and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were conducted in 11 Islands which were selected randomly from 6 atolls of the Maldives (Refer to Table 1, page 40). A total of 858 individuals participated in the 132 FGDs held in the islands and in the capital city, Male’. Out of which, 473 were female participants and 385 were male participants. Among them were 402 students, 128 youth, 137 parents, 118 were from the Education sector and 73 were from the Health sector. Additionally, all the relevant text books used in the Maldivian schools were analyzed to evaluate their SRH related content. This was carried out with the help from the Ministry of Education who provided the research team with the books used in all the grades. Summary of findings The Maldivian youth comprise of over one third of the population and most do not have access to appropriate information about SRH. The majority of the adolescents who participated in this research were unaware of the most basic information regarding SRH. It was also observed that the lack of materials and information on SRH within the school syllabus has drawn adolescents to seek information from other sources such as social media and the internet, which could lead them towards inaccurate and inappropriate information. Hence it can be concluded that the youth do not have adequate and appropriate information regarding SRH. Among the student population it was observed that the Commerce and Arts stream students were at a disadvantage in accessing information related to SRH. Therefore, special attention needs to be given to include all students in SRHE programmes, regardless of the educational stream chosen. viii