Council of Europe recommends comprehensive sex education for children

The Ministers of the Council of Europe approved a recommendation urging member states to provide comprehensive sex education from an early age in public and private schools and non-formal education settings. Adopted on October 14, the document, titled Protection of children from violence through age-appropriate comprehensive sexuality education, is intended to protect minors from sexual violence. While the recommendation is not legally binding, it proposes a common framework for European governments to develop and evaluate these programs.

The Ordo Iuris Institute, a Polish legal organization specializing in fundamental rights and family protection, published a critical analysis of the text on October 30. Author Julia Książek stated that although the recommendation formally recognizes parents as the primary educators, it does not guarantee their effective participation in decisions regarding educational content. The analysis notes that the document suggests parents should be informed rather than granting them decision-making authority over the moral and sexual formation of their children.