Theme: “Sex and relationship education as a means of preventing sexual violence against children”

UPDATE On the ONE in FIVE Campaign / the Lanzarote Convention

Since my last presentation in January, I am pleased to inform you that
2 new Council of Europe member States have ratified the Lanzarote Convention, Cyprus and Poland.

The Lanzarote Convention has been now ratified by 36 countries. This is one of the main achievements of the ONE in FIVE Campaign. I call on the parliamentarians of the remaining 11 countries to support the ratification of the Lanzarote Convention as soon as possible.

The ONE in FIVE Campaign continues to attract more and more partners wishing to sign campaign agreements, especially to be able to display the Campaign in their own countries and to benefit from the extraordinary tools designed for this Campaign. Not only in Europe but beyond, the latest interest for the campaign materials coming from Honduras and Guatemala.

The Campaign ends in November. I am nevertheless pleased to inform you that the objectives of the Campaign will be sustained through another means: the Committee of Ministers has decided on the principle to set up a European Day to protect children from sexual exploitation and sexual abuse. I will come back on this issue at your next meeting since the practicalities of this Day have yet to be decided upon.

While the Campaign ends in November, its objectives do not end in November. Let’s work together to sustain them in the period ahead. While the score of ratifications is rather positive, 11 countries have not yet ratified the Convention. Your continuous support in bringing these countries on board is paramount in this regard. I would encourage you to work with, and involve key members of Parliaments from these 11 countries to exchange views about what is needed for them to become Parties to the Convention.

On the topic: Sex and relationship education

Children absorb ideas, attitudes, and beliefs about sex and relationships from their family, their school, their friends, offline and online. Yet, even though they are empowered with abilities and inner resources, children need help with understanding, in an age-appropriate manner, the difference between healthy emotional relationships and sexual relations, as opposed to sexual violence, in any form it takes. In this regards, prevention is key: the ONE in FIVE Campaign argues that many cases can be averted if adequate prevention policies and measures were established.

The current situation of general sex education in schools is in most cases limited to prevention of early pregnancy, information on the risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. It is more focused on “beware of…” rather than positive education.

Sex education has one of the lowest status in the overall school curriculum. Studies reveal that children and young people, when asked about their experience of sex education at school, often complain about its content, which is, in some cases, focused more on the physical aspects of reproduction rather than on feelings, relationships and values.

Basic sex education is, therefore, about finding the right balance between the need to know and what is age-appropriate and relevant. Yet, all children should, whatever their age, be given the means to protect themselves from sexual violence.

Sex and relationship education provides children and young people with the necessary information, values and skills to have safe, fulfilling and enjoyable relationships. Verbalising sex and sexuality is one of its key components and is paramount when working against taboos, violence and discrimination. It offers an appropriate and necessary framework for educating children and young people about sexual violence. It provides them with the means, skills and, most importantly, knowledge to protect themselves from sexual abuse and exploitation.

Distinguishing between “good” and “bad” touches, resisting pressure, learning how to say “no”, but above all seeking help for themselves and for others are among the many ways in which sexual violence can be prevented.

Parents, schools but also public authorities in general have a key role to play to teach children and young people about sex and relationships. Schools and teachers can also help children protect themselves from dangers coming from their “circle of trust”.

The Council of Europe has developed a legal and social framework for the establishment of a sex and relationship education as a mean of preventing sexual violence against children. Article 6 of the Lanzarote Convention calls upon states parties to take measures to ensure that children, during primary and secondary education, receive information on the risks of sexual exploitation and sexual abuse.” The purpose is to enable children better to protect themselves against the risks of sexual violence. We need to make sure that this becomes a reality in all schools.

It is without doubt that ONE in FIVE Campaign has also managed to equip children, their families and teachers with the knowledge and tools to prevent sexual violence. Kiko and the Hand have, for example, given children the possibility to understand that they are not being blamed for the abuse and that they have done the right thing by speaking up. Kiko has effectively broken the taboo of sexual violence by pushing parents, teachers and guardians to have an open discussion about sexual abuse. It has helped children understand the difference between “good secrets and bad secrets”.

The Council of Europe’s training and capacity-building programme for education professionals – the Pestalozzi Programme – has also recognised the importance of sex and relationship education as a means of preventing sexual violence.

The message for parents, schools and society at large is clear: sex and relationship education matters because it provides children with the means to understand the risks and to acquire important concepts and promote disclosure.

I invite you as Parliamentarians to continue to use your influence to encourage governments to include sex and relationship education in all school curriculums. With your help, strong prevention measures will have a long-lasting impact on the safety of children against sexual violence, for the benefit of national authorities and society as a whole.