Council of Europe Calls for Comprehensive Sexuality Education to Help Protect Children from Violence

Helping children understand consent, personal boundaries and healthy relationships from an early age is an important step towards protecting them from violence and abuse. The Council of Europe Committee of Ministers has issued a new recommendation urging European governments to provide comprehensive sexuality education that is age-appropriate, inclusive and based on scientific evidence.

The recommendation highlights the importance of equipping children with the knowledge and confidence to understand their bodies, recognise inappropriate behaviour, respect others' boundaries and seek help when they feel unsafe. It also recognises the essential role parents play in their children's upbringing, development and protection.

Building an Understanding of Consent and Healthy Relationships

Comprehensive sexuality education goes beyond teaching children about biology. It helps them understand consent, bodily integrity, personal autonomy, emotional well-being and the boundaries that shape healthy relationships.

The Council of Europe emphasises that this education can help children recognise different forms of violence, including sexual abuse and technology-facilitated violence. Such harm can occur both online and offline and may involve adults or other children.

By learning how to identify unsafe situations, communicate their feelings and access appropriate support services, children can become better equipped to protect themselves and seek assistance when needed.

The recommendation calls on governments to establish the necessary laws and policies and provide adequate financial, educational and human resources to deliver comprehensive sexuality education across relevant educational settings, including public and private institutions and formal and non-formal learning environments.

It also warns that exemptions from sexuality education, whether provided for by law or occurring in practice, can weaken efforts to protect children from violence.

Growing Digital Risks Make Early Education More Important

The rapid development of technology has created new challenges for children's safety. The Council of Europe has expressed serious concern about children's increasing exposure to pornography and child sexual abuse material at increasingly young ages.

When children encounter such content before receiving reliable, age-appropriate information, it can influence how they understand bodies, intimacy, consent and relationships. Online environments can also expose them to exploitation, harassment and other forms of sexual violence.

The recommendation therefore stresses the need to address digital safety as part of sexuality education. Children should learn how to recognise online risks, understand inappropriate behaviour, protect their personal boundaries and identify trusted adults or services they can approach for help.

Children Want More Practical and Relevant Education

The recommendation draws on consultations with 245 children and young people aged between 9 and 22 from 12 European countries.

Their feedback suggests that sexuality education is often limited, optional, focused mainly on biology and insufficiently adapted to children's different ages and developmental needs. Participants also felt that important subjects, including consent, personal boundaries, diversity, violence prevention and online safety, do not receive enough attention.

The young respondents called for sexuality education to begin early and develop as children grow. They also highlighted the importance of reliable scientific information and lessons that address relationships, emotions, consent, sexual violence and ways to seek help.

Another key concern was the learning environment itself. Children want to be able to ask questions and discuss sensitive issues in safe, respectful and non-judgmental settings. They also want their views to be considered when educational programmes are developed.

Recognising Cultural Contexts and Legal Responsibilities

The Council of Europe recommends that sexuality education reflect the age, developmental needs and social circumstances of the children it serves. Educational programmes should also consider sociocultural norms and gender stereotypes that may influence attitudes towards relationships, consent and personal safety.

Children should receive clear information about what consent means and the legal age for sexual activity. They should also understand that certain sexual acts remain unlawful regardless of a child's age or any claim that the child consented. This includes situations involving a person who holds a recognised position of trust or authority over a child.

The recommendation allows countries to use different names for comprehensive sexuality education, taking into account local cultural contexts and the needs of different groups of children. However, the central objective remains the same: ensuring that children receive reliable information that supports their safety, dignity and well-being.

Parents Have an Essential Role

While the recommendation supports comprehensive sexuality education in schools and other learning environments, it also acknowledges that parents and guardians have primary responsibility for their children's upbringing and development.

It calls for parents and other holders of parental responsibility to be informed about the content, objectives and providers of sexuality education before and after its introduction into educational curricula.

Parents should also receive information about recognising signs of violence against children, knowing where to seek help and using appropriate educational resources to respond to their children's questions in an age-sensitive manner.

This approach recognises that children's understanding of relationships and personal safety develops through both education and conversations at home. Open, supportive discussions can help children feel more comfortable asking questions and speaking up when something concerns them.

Training Educators to Recognise and Prevent Abuse

The recommendation also highlights the importance of preparing teachers and other educators to deliver sexuality education effectively. Educators need to understand the changing forms of violence against children, including risks associated with digital platforms and technology.

In addition to teacher training, the Council of Europe encourages meaningful participation by children, support for civil society organisations, and stronger systems for monitoring, evaluation and data collection.

These measures are intended to help ensure that sexuality education is not simply included in a curriculum but is delivered in a way that responds to children's real experiences and safety needs.

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A Step Towards Stronger Child Protection

The recommendation builds on the Council of Europe's Lanzarote Convention, which all 46 Council of Europe member states are parties to. Article 6 of the convention requires countries to ensure that children receive information about the risks of sexual exploitation and abuse.

The new recommendation follows earlier work by the Council of Europe, including a 2024 feasibility study on sexuality education, research on sexual violence and harmful sexual behaviour displayed by children, and guidance on protecting children from the risks associated with online pornographic content.

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Together, these efforts underline the importance of giving children the knowledge and support they need to navigate relationships safely.

Comprehensive sexuality education is not only about understanding physical development. It is also about helping children recognise respect, understand consent, establish healthy boundaries and know when to ask for help. With age-appropriate education, informed parents and trained educators working together, children can be better supported in growing up with confidence, dignity and a stronger understanding of their rights.