Does a UNESCO guidance document for developing national sex education programs aim to encourage children to 'have sex' and legalize pedophilia? No, that's not true: This is a false and misleading representation of the UNESCO document on comprehensive sexuality education (CSE). The document aims to equip children with knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values that empower them to realize their health, well-being, and dignity. The claim that sex education is linked to pedophilia or child grooming is a baseless and harmful propaganda tactic used to portray the West as a threat to traditional values.
The claim appeared in a TikTok video (archived here) published on May 10, 2023, under the title "The risk to children from early sexual education described in WHO and UNESCO guidelines," translated from Bulgarian to English by Lead Stories staff. The host of the discussion shared the following comments in Bulgarian (as translated):
This early sex education opens the door for children to become sexual targets or victims. Recently, there have been talks in some countries about legalizing pedophilia, but of course - voluntarily. Naturally, if ignorant in these matters, it is very difficult to believe that the child has given consent when he does not even know what it is all about. But when the child is informed, then it is convenient for people to say, 'Wait, the child is aware, they learn about that at school and know very well what we want to do.' Do you realise what obscenity that is?
This is what the post looked like on TikTok at the time of writing:
(Source: TikTok screenshot taken on Sat Jun 10 08:49:43 2023 UTC)
Social media posts in Bulgaria have spread false information about the document on sex education developed by UNESCO and WHO. They all claim that the document aims to teach children to "have sex" and to legalize pedophilia worldwide.
The document on sex education, first published by UNESCO in 2009, is called "International Technical Guidance on Sexuality Education" and is a comprehensive and evidence-based guide for teaching and learning about sexuality and relationships. The document covers topics such as human rights, gender equality, sexual and reproductive health, HIV and AIDS, violence prevention, and diversity. It does not encourage children to have sex but rather to develop respect, empathy, responsibility and reciprocity:
Comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) is a curriculum-based process of teaching and learning
about the cognitive, emotional, physical and social aspects of sexuality. It aims to equip children
and young people with knowledge, skills, attitudes and values that will empower them to: realize
their health, well-being and dignity; develop respectful social and sexual relationships; consider
how their choices affect their own well-being and that of others; and, understand and ensure the
protection of their rights throughout their lives.
The guideline aims to help young people achieve global Sustainable Development Goals and not only targets primary school children but also provides learning content guidelines for different educational levels. The topics are gradually introduced; the main criterion is that the content matches the children's age.
Misquoting and distorting this document to portray sex education as a form of child grooming as well as a threat to traditional values, serves the agenda of Russian propaganda against the West.
Lead Stories has debunked the claim that the WHO did not recommend 9-to-12-year-olds have their first sexual experience at those ages here.
