Facing the Challenge: The Failures of Sex Education and the Fight Against SGBV

Sex education is failing. The challenge is the fight against SGBV. The far right is organizing to leave young people in ignorance. And the government is turning a deaf ear.

No invited minister was present in the Senate Monday November 6 during the presentation of the white paper “for real sexuality education”. A white paper written by around ten associations ranging from Planning familial to the feminist association Forward all with organizations representing schools such as a union of school leaders, a union of school nurses or a student union.

The white paper talks about “true” sexuality education because although this education is recommended by the texts, it is still not really effective. A 2001 law provides for three annual sexuality education sessions. But we are very far from the mark. According to an Ifop survey published last March, 17% of 15-24 year olds have never benefited from these courses during their schooling. And, among the others, only a third said they had benefited from the three planned annual sessions. On the subject, educational establishments are moving forward in dispersed order. Some have these courses done by school nurses, others by volunteer teachers, others are helped by associations such as the planning familial…all are limited by a lack of resources and the vagueness of what is asked of them.

Challenges

However, the challenges of sexuality education are enormous, as several speakers pointed out. Firstly, the fight against sexist and sexual violence (SGBV). In the absence of this education, the school leaves the field open to porn which has become easily accessible. A recent HCE report highlighted the omnipresence of violence against women in the porn industry.

Read: AGAINST PORNOCRIMINALITY, THE HCE DENOUNCES THE INACTION OF THE AUTHORITIES

Sex education also helps fight against sexually transmitted diseases or unwanted pregnancies. And it makes it possible to deflate certain forms of school harassment by evoking different sexual orientations. Among other things…

These lessons in tolerance and the fight against male domination irritate the far-right group “vigilant parents” who held a conference a few days before, also in the Senate. A very well organized group to infiltrate the school and disrupt the teaching of sexuality.
Faced with him, there was no energetic reaction. During the presentation of the White Paper, Marion Marty, advisor to the cabinet of Gabriel Attal, Minister of Education, took the floor to announce that the National Curriculum Council would be contacted to firmly integrate these lessons. She did not convince the assembly.

As at the time of the ABCD of equality, the government is turning its back so as not to confront the extreme right on this subject.

Read: EDUCATION FOR EQUALITY: THE ABCD’S DEAD SOON?

The white paper, very well done, nevertheless undermines the government’s work to implement these lessons. It proposes a “multi-year national plan” and delivers numerous recommendations. But by doing almost nothing, the government is leaving the field open to the far right of “vigilant parents”.

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