Doc. 10801
24 January 2006

Sexuality education

Motion for a resolution
presented by Mrs Hägg and others

1.        Sexuality plays a major role in every person’s life. Sexuality is not only decisive to relationships, having children, and health – but also an important part of finding personal identity. Regardless of whether one is heterosexual, homosexual or bisexual, one has the right to be taken seriously, and be shown respect in relation to the questions to which both love and sexuality give rise. To be able to decide about having sex, with whom and when, and also about the possibility of having children, is a precondition for exercising power over one’s own life. Having the knowledge and capacity to control one’s own sexuality is one of the keys to a better life.

2.        Good education in sexuality gives a preparedness for taking personal decisions with regard to one’s own body and sexuality. Knowledge provides a weapon against both sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancy. It is also important to be able to get acquainted with the experiences of others, so as to learn about oneself and what one wants to do.

3.        Studies show that in countries where social tolerance of young people’s sexuality is greatest, contraception rates are highest and abortion rates are lowest. The cost of contraception, anonymity, confidentiality and the accessibility of clinics issuing contraceptives are all determining factors in the use of contraceptives by young people.

4.        In the late 1990s European teenagers and young adults were more sexually active than before. This is also the time when public sex education and HIV prevention campaigns were less active than ten years earlier and the attitude towards using condoms had changed. This has had dramatic consequences for the rates of STDs and also HIV infections. In Europe only a few countries have compulsory sexuality education on the school curriculum. And in these countries the quality of the sexuality education is often very poor. It is of utmost importance that schools include HIV/AIDS and STD prevention through their life skills programmes. To have good sexuality education can also help reducing the stigma and discrimination attached to HIV/AIDS.

5.        The Assembly considers that due to the high prevalence of HIV infection in Eastern Europe and the increase in STDs among young Europeans, the promotion of condom use should be a priority. The Assembly thus calls on the governments of Council of Europe member states to promote tolerance towards young people’s sexuality and ensure adequate dissemination of information on contraception, abortion and STDs in school.

Signed ¹:

HÄGG, Carina, Sweden, SOC
ANTUNOVIC, Željka, Croatia, SOC
AUSTIN, John, United Kingdom, SOC
ATANASOVA, Aneliya, Bulgaria, ALDE
BILGEHAN, Gülsün, Turkey, SOC
DAMANAKI, Maria, Greece, SOC
FAUTRIER, Catherine, Monaco, EPP/CD
GULIYEVA, Aynur, Azerbaijan, ALDE
PEHLIVAN, Fatma, Belgium, SOC
STANTCHEVA, Darinka, Bulgaria, ALDE
ZAPFL-HELBLING, Rosmarie, Switzerland, EPP/CD

¹        SOC: Socialist Group
       EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party
       ALDE: Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe
       EDG: European Democratic Group
       UEL: Group of the Unified European Left
       NR: not registered in a group