The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) is launching a Sexual Health Awareness and Guidance (SHAG) campaign in collaboration with the HSE 11-14th February, including distribution of 30,000 ‘SHAG Packs’, as well focusing on tackling growing STI rates, education on consensual sex, and all-options supports for unplanned pregnancies.
MEDIA DIARY/PHOTOCALL NOTE:
Date: Monday, 11th February
Location: TU Dublin, Kevin Street (the Annex).
Time: 10am
Photocall will include: USI, HSE, HIV Ireland, IFPA, NWCI, DRCC
This Monday 11th February ahead of Valentine’s Day, the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) are set to launch the highly anticipated National Campaign ‘SHAG’ Week. Monday kicks off a week-long Campaign Roadshow where USI will be visiting:
- TU Dublin (Kevin St)
- Waterford IT: Cork St & College St. Campus
- DCU: Glasnevin Campus.
- IT Sligo: Main campus.
PRESS RELEASE
The Union of Students in Ireland have partnered with the HSE Sexual Health and Crisis Pregnancy Programme in this exciting and educational campaign for third level students.
SHAG Week 2019 will focus on areas such as:
- STI’s (awareness, prevention, testing and treatment)
- Consent
- Unplanned Pregnancy (promotion of HSE MyOptions)
- Contraception (the various methods of contraception and how to use them)
Throughout the week, 30,000 ‘SHAG PACKS’ will be distributed around USI affiliated colleges in Ireland. The contents of these will include condoms, lubricant, information on consent, STIs and contraception.
HSE research finds: Chlamydia in young people (aged 15-24) makes up 50% of all cases reported, Gonorrhoea in young people make up 39% of all cases reported while genital herpes in young people make up 38% of all cases reported
USI in conjunction with SmartConsent, will roll out consent education workshops across the country during the week.
USI President, Síona Cahill said;
“SHAG Week is one of the most important campaigns in the student calendar year. Being intimate with someone should be an amazing experience when you’re ready, but it’s an experience we’re often afraid of talking about – so for USI SHAG 2019, we’re focusing on how communication is genuinely essential for healthy, pleasurable and safe sex – every time”
It is widely recognised that students have not receiving adequate sexual health and wellbeing education in primary and post-primary, and SHAG week is an opportunity to educate them about safer sex, how to protect themselves from STI’s or unplanned pregnancies, as well as the importance of consent, and has done so for over two decades. We will continue to advocate and support moves to improve the sex ed curriculum as a matter of urgency”
“This year it is the first time in Irish history that USI can legally provide all-options unplanned pregnancy information to our members through HSE MyOptions, after 35 years of student activism for pro-choice healthcare in Ireland. USI will strive to ensure each student reached throughout this campaign will be given legal and responsible information on how to access abortion care, should they need it.”
“USI are heavily weighting the campaign on consent education,, through our SHAG Packs and rollout of consent workshops. It’s also important that every student who’s sexually active looks after their own sexual health. This means getting tested regularly, and using condoms and contraception to protect you from the risk of contracting an STI”
This campaign is the only one of its kind and is set to reach over 30,000 students in third level at least.”
Follow SHAG week on USI’s social media channels:
Facebook: @USI.ie
Instagram: usi.ie
Twitter: @TheUSI
Website: www.usi.ie
To stay up to date, use hashtags:
#SHAG19
#HSEMyOptions
#SDG3
Notes:
- The Union of Students in Ireland represent over 374,000 students across the island of Ireland
- USI SHAG acronym stands for Sexual Health Awareness and Guidance
- USI have partnered with the HSE Sexual Health and Crisis Pregnancy Programme for this National Campaign
- 30,000 SHAG Packs will be distributed throughout the week
- Find 2017 HSE STI report statistics HERE
For Comment, Contact:
Aoife Duff
Public Relations & Communications Manager
E: pr@usi.ie
M: 083 881 2270