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Call for Authors: Challenges of Modern Sexual Education in Europe

2.6 Minutes

FNF Europe and Projekt: Polska are looking for authors, to contribute to a short publication on the importance of sexual education in modern society and how populists use sexual education in their political agenda.

Working title: “From Education Ban to LGBT-Free Zones. Challenges of modern sexual education in Europe”.

This publication is a part of the project “Building a European network of minority rights activists, sexual education experts and (regional, national and European) policy-makers to protect LGBTI rights”, developed by Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom and Projekt: Polska.

Fee: 450 euro per article (gross amount)

Deadline for nominations of potential authors: October 25th.

Deadline for submissions: November 15th.

Contact Milosz Hodun here.

Background

In the age of very fast developments in all areas of human life, and especially in communication and technological progress, there are also new phenomena in the sphere of human sexuality, like rising number of HIV and STI cases, sexting, sextortion, and others. They became big challenges for sexual educators who face lack of resources and lack of political support. The latter one is especially true in the case of Central, Eastern and some parts of Southern Europe. There are states in the EU where sexual education is of a shamefully low quality, there are those where it is absent.

There are even governments, which decided to use human sexuality for political purposes. To polarize the society and win public support, they fight against sexual minorities and science-based education. Consequently, members of LGBT+ community and sexual health educators are labeled as “political enemies” and often targeted with aggressive campaigns.

Liberals know that ideology and private religious believes should never replace evidence. Liberals also know that education is the fundament of every free society. A new generation of Europeans must get a chance of taking their decisions based on facts and be aware of the choices they have. This is true also - or maybe especially - when it comes to sexual life.

Publication

  • This publication will be a study on sexual education itself and its connection with politics.
  • It will touch upon the most important challenges of modern sex education and it will expose how they became mixed in political fight in many European states.
  • Case studies of particular countries, both best and worst examples (Poland and Scandinavia respectively), will serve as starting points for a general discussion on sex education.

Article Structure

  • Introduction (e.g. definition of the problem)
  • Current status (best and worst practices from a national/regional perspective)
  • Recommendations
  • Links between sexual education and public policies and politics.
  • Conslusions

Format and length: A “light” analytical article, aprox. 9-10 pages or 22.000 - 25.000 characters (Times New Roman font size 12, single-spaced, justified).

Each article should include at least one infographic, table, map or graph.

Article Topics

1. Sex Ed and Politics (Case Study: Poland)

How sex education became a political tool and what negative consequences it brought to the society.

How sex education became linked with topics like LGBT issues, abortion and religion in general.

How the government labeled sex educators as public enemies and what are consequences thereof.

2. Consequences of Lack of Science-Based Sex Education in a Modern Society

What are the negative consequences of lack of science-based sexual education (e.g. number of teen age pregnancies, STIs).

Statistics-based article proving that sex education is an important instrument of conducting efficient public health policies on national level.

Connection between sex education and tolerance (acceptance for LGBT).

3. Modern Trends and Challenges in Sex Education

Newest challenges in sex education, based on experiences of educators and sexologists.

Sex education and modern technologies- challenges for schools.

Permanent enhancing of competences by educators.

4. Nordic Success

Sex education in Scandinavia.

Compulsory sex education for young children and innovative tools in sex education for children.

Philosophical underpinnings (progressiveness, data-driven, pragmatic, protestant?).

5. Equality Language Vs. Hate Speech

Language and sex education. Language and diversity.

Equality language as a way of counteracting sexual minorities discrimination.

Sex education fake news.