Strengthening the affective and emotional dimension of comprehensive sexuality education to prevent and combat discrimination, hate crime and gender-based violence

Motion for a resolution | Doc. 16318 | 09 January 2026

Signatories:

Mr Francesco VERDUCCI, Italy, SOC ; Ms Petra BAYR, Austria, SOC ; Ms Elena BONETTI, Italy, ALDE ; Ms Naomi CACHIA, Malta, SOC ; Ms Sevilay ÇELENK, Türkiye, UEL ; Ms Edite ESTRELA, Portugal, SOC ; Ms Aurora FLORIDIA, Italy, SOC ; Mr Gerardo GIOVAGNOLI, San Marino, SOC ; Ms Gökçe GÖKÇEN, Türkiye, SOC ; Ms Hripsime GRIGORYAN, Armenia, SOC ; Ms Zita GURMAI, Hungary, SOC ; Mr Antonio GUTIÉRREZ LIMONES, Spain, SOC ; Ms Tuula HAATAINEN, Finland, SOC ; Ms Kristina IKIĆ BANIČEK, Croatia, SOC ; Ms Saskia KLUIT, Netherlands, SOC ; Ms Bisera KOSTADINOVSKA-STOJCHEVSKA, North Macedonia, SOC ; Mr Christophe LACROIX, Belgium, SOC ; Mr Ettore Antonio LICHERI, Italy, UEL ; Ms Iris LUARASI, Albania, SOC ; Mr Didier MARIE, France, SOC ; Ms Luz MARTINEZ SEIJO, Spain, SOC ; Ms Giulia MURATORI, San Marino, SOC ; Ms Wanda NOWICKA, Poland, SOC ; Ms Filiz POLAT, Germany, SOC ; Ms Agnes Sirkka PRAMMER, Austria, SOC ; Mr Roberto SPERANZA, Italy, SOC ; Mr Georgios STAMATIS, Greece, EPP/CD ; Ms Susanna VELA, Andorra, SOC ; Ms Sandra ZAMPA, Italy, SOC

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only those who have signed it.

Schools are the best place to combat prejudice and stereotypes and to prevent discrimination, bullying, hate crime and gender-based violence.

The Parliamentary Assembly has on several occasions stressed that “comprehensive sexuality education is a crucial part of young people’s preparation for adult life” and that age-appropriate sexuality education should be part of all school curricula, addressing “the promotion of gender equality, relationships, consent, prevention of and protection from sexual, gender-based and intimate partner violence”, as stated in Resolutions 2331 (2020), 2412 (2021) and 2490 (2023).

Experience in recent years has shown that, for more effective implementation, sexuality education must be accompanied by emotional and affective education programmes that promote mutual respect for different opinions and behaviours, as well as the non-violent resolution of conflicts in interpersonal relations.

Strengthening the affective and emotional dimension of comprehensive sexuality education in school curricula aims to encourage both girls and boys not only to discover and understand their own bodies, but also to learn to recognise and reflect upon feelings and affectivity through critical discussion of the complex field of emotions. The aim is to provide new generations with the tools necessary to handle conflicts, failures, rejections and the challenging phases of adolescence and adulthood, and to use such education to promote equality and respect for diversity and to prevent discrimination, bullying, hate crime and gender-based violence.

The Assembly should explore existing good practices and propose that member States introduce or strengthen age-appropriate comprehensive sexuality education addressing the affective and emotional dimension as part of all school curricula.