A/HRC/41/34 2. Children and adolescents 63. Adolescence is a critical phase for achieving human potential and a period of dynamic brain and personality development, during which social relationships and the social environment shape capabilities that are the foundation for future health and wellbeing. Investment in the development of adolescents brings benefits today and for the next generation. 64. Supporting access to free and quality secondary education for all adolescents is the single most effective investment.25 Schools play a crucial role in nurturing the development of adolescents, and are especially important in mitigating the effects of violence and conflict. There is considerable evidence of the effectiveness of a whole-school approach to promote mental health and to tackle problems such as bullying. Skills-based interventions in schools and families help to prevent involvement in gangs. 26 Education should equip children to flourish socially, emotionally and economically. 27 When all young people have opportunities to succeed, the risk of the development of subcultures of exclusion is reduced. Social support in the family and the wider community, and positive beliefs related to optimism, self-esteem and a sense of control, can also counter the effects of stress and trauma as children transition to adulthood. 65. Sexuality education for children is a powerful measure for promoting and protecting sexual and reproductive rights and for the promotion of mental health and well-being in adolescence and later in adulthood. Sexuality education with a focus on consent, respect and mutual pleasure is important for forming positive, healthy relationships in the future and helps to empower young people against sexual violence. 28 In many countries, children have no access to comprehensive sexuality education, reflecting a failure to comply with the realization of the right to physical and mental health. The Special Rapporteur emphasizes that sexual health and rights should not be undermined in the formulation and implementation of health-related policies. 66. Social exclusion in adolescence increases vulnerability to group violence. Violent extremism in defence of the group is driven by the motivation to restore personal significance or self-worth, often following profound loss or humiliation. 29 States should invest in empowering adolescents by respecting their rights and autonomy, recognizing their capacities and investing in their health, resilience and stake in the future. All initiatives to address the physical, mental and sexual health of adolescents should be implemented in compliance with international human rights obligations, taking into account the views and evolving capacities of adolescents and adopting evidence-based approaches (see A/HRC/32/32). 67. The different vulnerabilities of adolescent girls and boys should be recognized in youth violence prevention policies and programmes, which should include gender-sensitive initiatives that transform gender norms. Actively involving all people, whether girls or women, boys or men, is a critical component of rights-based action to promote well-being and reduce the toxic effects of harmful gender stereotypes later in life. 24 25 26 27 28 29 See Sami Timimi, “Children’s mental health: time to stop using psychiatric diagnosis” in European Journal of Psychotherapy & Counselling, vol. 17, No. 4 (2017), pp. 342–358. See Every Woman, Every Child, The global strategy for women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health (2016–2030): survive thrive transform (2015). See Robyn M. O’Connor and Stephanie Waddell, What works to prevent gang involvement, youth violence and crime: a rapid review of interventions delivered in the UK and abroad (London, Early Intervention foundation, 2015). See WHO and University of Cambridge, Institute of Criminology, Violence Research Centre, “Strategies to reduce global violence by 50% in Thirty Years” (Cambridge, 2015). See United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, International technical guidance on sexuality education: an evidence-informed approach (Paris, 2018). See Clara Pretus and others, “Neural and behavioral correlates of sacred values and vulnerability to violent extremism” in Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 9 (2018) art. 2462; and Arie W. Kruglanski and others, “The psychology of radicalization and deradicalization: how significance quest impacts violent extremism” in Advances in Political Psychology, vol. 35, No. S1 (2014), pp. 69–93. 13