SEDUCA: Sex education as the best weapon against gender-based violence

Sex education is a legal requirement in almost all EU countries, but its content and quality vary. According to the European Parliament report “Sexual Education Policies in the EU” (2013), Nordic and Benelux countries provide the highest quality sex education, while Eastern and Southern European states have deficient or non-existent programs.

Although sex education is integrated into school curricula in Greece, Spain, and Croatia, it is rarely implemented. Furthermore, according to the 2019 School Education Gateway survey on sex education, most teachers, parents, and institutions support sex education in schools. However, there is a lack of support to equip educators to manage the information effectively, and education is often limited to the human body and its development. We aim to respond to the European Parliament’s Resolution Proposal on the state of sexual and reproductive health and rights in the Union, within the framework of women’s health (2019/2165(INI)), particularly the section promoting comprehensive sex education for the benefit of young people.

The proposal advocates for comprehensive sexuality education and services that address young people’s needs, emphasizing the importance of youth participation, in collaboration with other stakeholders such as their families, in the development, implementation, and evaluation of programs. This is essential to ensure the effectiveness of comprehensive sex education. Through the active participation of young people in our project and the inclusion of families, we contribute value and provide a response to the EU. Simultaneously, through our multidimensional consortium, we address both formal education (universities and schools) and non-formal education (associations).

ACTIVITIES OF THIS PROJECT

1. RESEARCH

A research study is conducted on the information about sex education that our general target group (young people aged 13 to 18) possesses at the beginning, midway, and end of our project. The goal is to understand the initial starting point, the impact of our activities during the project’s process, and the impact of our activities on the project’s outcomes.

2. INTERACTIVE PLATFORM

An interactive platform where all stakeholders involved in our project collaborate, including sexologists, healthcare professionals, educators, families, and young people. This platform aims to serve as an example of good practices in emotional and sexual relationships, promoting healthy behaviors in relationships and sexual conduct among young people.

The primary goal is to establish behaviors that help prevent the emergence of sexist attitudes, ultimately reducing the risk of future gender-based violence. The platform will focus on fostering respect, equality, and emotional well-being in relationships while providing guidance on maintaining healthy interactions.

3. AWARENESS-RAISING ACTIVITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

The young people participating in our project will perform rap rhymes that deliver messages of prevention and awareness about behaviors that may be considered gender-based violence. These rhymes will address related topics such as jealousy, possessiveness, verbal abuse, and the loss of self-esteem.

The rhymes will be organized and culminate in the production of a music video, with each rhyme accompanied by a dance. All the rhymes and dances will be combined to create a video that raises awareness and helps disseminate the purpose and message of our project.

4. MÓDULOS DIDÁCTICOS

CFour didactic modules designed to train and qualify educators in both formal and non-formal education settings. These modules aim to provide educators with the knowledge, skills, and tools needed to effectively address topics related to comprehensive sex education, gender equality, and the prevention of gender-based violence.