Workshop 4: The role of parents, school and other organizations in the sexual education
Chair: S. Jones (Rep. of Ireland) & D. Lazaris (Greece)
Schools.
Sex education is not uniform throughout Europe. It is new in some countries (Ireland, Baltic States), more established in a country like the French speaking part of Switzerland. The influence of church inhibits sex education in countries like Poland and Lithuania. New immigrant people can have special needs and may need ways of involving them in the sex education system.
Parents.
Parents need more advice and support in giving sex education to their children according to their age and needs. More resource materials needed – websites, DVD’s, leaflets and meetings may be of use.In Switzerland where there has been sex education for some time, parents may feel more comfortable talking to their children.
Other organisations.
Family planning organisations support sex education programmes in many countries.
Resources – meetings and training of health personnel.
Youth groups – ‘Youth to Youth’ education schemes.
Media – Websites – Radio – TV may be of help.
Recommendations.
Better organized sex education in schools.
Delivered by trained teachers
To stand alone as a subject – not part of biology or religion classes.
Where sex education is not in a country – Parents and politicians should be influenced to change the situation to a more liberal system.
Parents need to be empowered, to be able to promote sex education at home.
Countries should be able to exchange ideas and resource materials to help each other to promote sex education
Through the co-operation of international organisations such as ESC.