Everything you know about sex is true.

Spanish region takes hands-on approach to sex education

Officials in the Spanish region of Extremadura have launched a major programme to teach young people about 'sexual self-exploration and discovery of self-pleasure'.

"Pleasure is in your own hands" is the slogan of a campaign that has sparked political controversy and challenges traditional Roman Catholic views on people having sex, even on their own, for non-reproductive reasons.

Officials from the neighbouring region of Andalucia have expressed an interest in copying the programme.

The campaign includes leaflets, flyers, a "fanzine" and workshops for the young -the target are those between 14 and 17- in which they receive instruction on self-pleasuring techniques along with advice on contraception and self-respect.

Commentators questioned why the poorest region in Spain was paying for a campaign to promote onanism. "Extremadura should be pleased with itself," sniped Pilar Rahola, a columnist in the Barcelona-based La Vanguardia newspaper. "It may have the most unemployed young people in Spain, but they will be the best at masturbation."

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