{"id":141778,"date":"2025-03-07T14:59:20","date_gmt":"2025-03-07T13:59:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cesie.org\/?p=141778"},"modified":"2025-03-07T15:00:54","modified_gmt":"2025-03-07T14:00:54","slug":"loveact-8marzo-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cesie.org\/en\/justice\/loveact-8marzo-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Italy\u2019s reluctance on Comprehensive Sexuality Education and its devastating consequences"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

International Women\u2019s Day on 8 March is a moment to reflect \u2013 not just on progress, but on persistent inequalities.<\/strong> Gender-based violence remains widespread, and without proper education, it will continue. Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) is key to change: it empowers people to make informed decisions about their sexuality and relationships, fostering autonomy, respect, and inclusion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet, in Italy, its implementation remains inconsistent, blocked by structural barriers and political resistance. Civil society is pushing back, demanding CSE be recognised as a fundamental human right. For two years, LoveAct <\/strong><\/a> has been advocating for a structured, mandatory<\/strong> curriculum<\/strong> that would be science-based, age-appropriate, and accessible to all students, regardless of where they live.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Italy\u2019s complicated, and often turbulent, relationship with Comprehensive Sexuality Education<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sexuality education is still not mandatory in Italy<\/strong>; while local initiatives led by NGOs and external experts exist, they remain insufficient. Without a national legal framework, disparities between regions persist, with teachers being untrained and feeling unprepared. In 2023, a government directive raised hopes by introducing relationship education in upper secondary schools, with funding for teacher training and awareness. However, it falls short of providing true CSE \u2013 remaining voluntary, ignoring UNESCO\u2019s guidelines, excluding students' voices, and neglecting younger children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, far-right movements have fuelled misinformation, framing CSE as a threat to family values and national identity<\/strong>. By blocking education on relationships, consent, and sexuality, they reinforce gender stereotypes and uphold a patriarchal system rife with gender-based violence (GBV).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2023 alone, 96 women were murdered in Italy, with 62% of sexual assaults committed by current or former partners. Feminicides are but one type of gender-based violence; many other cases go unnoticed, especially since reporting rates remain low. Recently, however, voices have spoken out against rape culture and toxic masculinity<\/strong>, sparking nationwide protests and demands for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Civil society\u2019s role in advancing comprehensive sexuality education<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Civil society organisations are leading the way to support the capacity of teachers and experts to deliver CSE. In 2020, the ISEX project \u2013 Integral Sexual Education and Empowerment in Schools<\/em><\/strong> produced a White Paper with recommendations<\/a> to policymakers and directors of educational institutions on how to advance the promotion of sexuality and affective education in schools. It also provided educators with a non-formal education curriculum on sexuality and affectivity<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Explore ISEX resources here<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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The multi-country project identified a key challenge as being the reluctance of adults responsible for adolescent education to address topics still considered taboo<\/strong>; since sexuality education is not mandatory, educators fear risking their reputation by engaging with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Political action is crucial to changing mentalities<\/strong> and bringing about the effective implementation of CSE in Italian schools. For this reason, as part of the LoveAct project, we have launched the Manifesto to advance CSE<\/strong><\/a>,<\/strong> urging the government to take action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are calling for a CSE integrated into the national curriculum, applied consistently across schools, and facilitated by trained professionals such as doctors, nurses, educators, and psychologists. CSE must cover the full spectrum of sexuality and affection<\/strong>, addressing topics such as consent, gender identity, sexual pleasure, and reproductive health, and its approach must be: multicultural, intersectional, trans-feminist, intergenerational, evidence-based, trauma-informed, sex-positive, child-friendly, inclusive, participatory, and eco-feminist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Read the manifesto and sign it!<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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LoveAct: Positive change is possible<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The LoveAct project has made significant strides in fostering a more informed, inclusive, and supportive approach to discussions on sexuality and affectivity in Italy, France, Greece, Lithuania, Belgium, Cyprus and Spain. Through its initiatives, the project has:<\/p>\n\n\n\n