EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 84/950

(2004/C 84 E/1049)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1116/04

by Uma Aaltonen (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(5 April 2004)

Subject: Sex education for children and young people in the enlarging Union

Does the Commission agree that the EU ought to respect its citizens' rights regarding reproduction, equality of the sexes, the right to live a safe life protected from any violence, including violence within the family and in sexual relations, the right of access to proper health care and the right to be informed about sexually transmitted diseases?

Does the Commission agree that these rights are based on and enshrined in Community law and international agreements?

Does the Commission believe, as I do, that, in order to be able to exercise these rights in full, citizens should be able to obtain good and objective information about sex at a sufficiently early stage in their lives in the form of information material, programmes and education projects?

I myself believe that if information is provided in advance, objectively and with the aim of protecting people, this will promote these objectives as children and young people progress through adolescence to adulthood. What, therefore, will the Commission do for the benefit of young people in the enlarging Union to ensure a high standard of sex education for all?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(30 April 2004)

The European Union was founded on the principles of liberty, democracy and respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law. All Member States have signed various human rights treaties both at the United Nations level and at the Council of Europe level. Moreover, there is ample EU legislation that addresses many of the issues raised by the Honourable Member. All Member States also have a strong committment to human rights in their constitutions or constitutional instruments. Many of these legal instruments, from a national level to the international level, also address in one form or another rights with regard to family planning, access to health care, preventive measures against sexually transmitted diseases and freedom from violence in all forms. In order for citizens to be able to exercise those rights, it is important that they can have access to information about these issues.

At European Union level, one major tool to promote sexual education is the Public Health Action Programme (2003-2008) (1). Sexual health, including sexual education, is an important part of the health determinants strand of this programme. Under the 2003 call for proposals of this programme, a project entitled ‘European partnership to promote the sexual and reproductive health and rights of young people’, coordinated by the International Planned Parenthood Foundation, was selected for funding. This issue is again part of the priorities under the 2004 work plan, which reads:

Taking account of information from the health monitoring system, develop health promotion strategies and define best practices to address sexual education (teenage pregnancy, family planning) and prevention of sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV/AIDS, including consideration of approaches in school setting and those targeting specific groups.

(1) Decision No 1786/2002/Ec of the Parliament and of the Council of 23 September 2002 adopting a programme of Community action in the field of public health (2003-2008), OJ L 271, 9.10.2002.