NCW is aware that all English secondary schools will be required to teach Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) from September 2019. “˜Can Education Stop Abuse?’, the recent paper published by GenPol, links “˜comprehensive and quality sexuality education’ to a decrease in gender-based violence. Therefore NCW, in Conference assembled, urges the government to include in the new statutory guidance for RSE “¦”¦”¦”¦. topics and teaching practices that are essential’ for “˜Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE)’ as recommended by UNESCO, IPPF and the European Parliament FEMM “˜. In doing so, the government will provide better education to ensure the sexual safety and wellbeing of future students and indirectly decrease gendered violence by tackling the power dynamics at the root of gendered abuse.
Why now
- Network 18 ““ 30 has concerns about
- Sexual violence against female university students
- Uninvited, non-consensual rough sex, including
- Choking, strangulation and suffocation
- Little or no policy, education, training, reporting procedures, support services at universities
- Little or no effective RSHE in schools – pornography
Why now
- The Government has announced a review of RSHE
- Critical report from the Women & Equalities Select Committee as part of its VAWG inquiry
- Sarah Champion MP calling for RSHE to be a priority
- Right time for a Network 18-30/NCW campaign
Unless sexual violence addressed in formative years, the problem of VAWG won’t be solved