In the Sweden it has been mandatory since 1955, in Norway since 1960, in Denmark And Finland (in the latter country it is not mandatory, but integrated) since 1970, in Spanish from 2020. Sign in Italy today the debate about Valditara Bill which, among other things, provides “informed consent” from the family. Amendments signed by the Northern League will even be discussed Giorgia Latini that extends the ban to high schools. If we talk about sexual affective education in schoolswe can safely state that, although Europe is moving in a certain direction, by including it in the curriculum from the first school year, Italy risks taking a big step backwards. And because the situation is critical, fragmented and on a voluntary basis…
Dystonia is proven if you read the research promoted by One Hundred Thousand Foundation in collaboration withUniversity of Milan-Bicoccathrough the Department of Anti-Domestic Violence Research Center (with financial support from Gucci). The study was carried out from January to October 2025, under coordination Marina Callonifull professor of Political and Social Philosophy, and by Elisabetta Biffiprofessor of General Pedagogy, who mercilessly portrayed Italian reality. The aim is twofold: to provide a critical mapping of the regulatory, training and cultural situation in Italy and abroad, and to propose operational recommendations for the development of innovative training models aimed at teachers. The meaning is: not only to protest something that remains absent at the regulatory level, but also and above all, to propose scientific solutions that can counter propaganda “Gender theory in schools”, as much as I can talk to the majority in recent months.
Let’s start from now. Italy has never implemented the indications of the World Health Organization, the United Nations, UNESCO and the Council of Europe and, although it has ratified the Convention on the Rights of Children and Adolescents, according to researchers it violates article 6 which states: “You have the right to live“. “Children are sexual bodies that have an emotional life, therefore education is part of their educational path, in their life – explains Professor Biffi -. And for this reason teachers must know how to manage it, having the appropriate training tools.”
From 1975 to the present they have been presented 34 legislative projects to introduce sex education in schools, but none of it was approved. In 2013, the year of the ratification of the Istanbul Convention by our country, the law was signed by the then members of parliament Celeste Constantinenow vice president of the Una Nuovi Centomila Foundation and scientific representative of the research, it was discussed in the Committee on Culture, but never reached the Council. So far, there are regulations that only provide space for educational projects: from the famous Law of 2015 on “Good school”, which promotes gender equality and the fight against violence against women in training offers, until 2019Civic educationwhich includes digital citizenship that refers to oppression, cyberbullying, and gender violence. There 2025 Budget Law they finance sexual and emotional education programs in secondary schools with 500 thousand euros. Appropriately: only in middle school.
To date, these regulations have given individual institutions the possibility, in no particular order, to promote or organize courses created by anti-violence centers spread throughout the national territory, by associations and by the Una Nuovi Centomila Foundation. “Courses created by” because nowadays, and this is one of the biggest problems, teachers are not specifically trained on gender and sexuality issues. The choice of areas of continuing training, required by law but with varying remaining hours, is delegated to each school. Gender and sexuality courses do not provide any course credit.
Our country has been called back several times. What is at stake is not sexual orientation, if that is at all an issue, but people’s development, their growth, and the future of their relationships. Raising citizens “educated in affectivity” means preventing not only gender violence, but also behavioral disorders. It means investing in the society of the future. “In recent years, we have witnessed dramatic growth relational difficulties among adolescents – explains Professor Calloni –, to early exposure to sexual or pornographic imagesfor improvement early pregnancy and for an exponential return of sexually transmitted diseasesMore than just gender ideology.
“Families are left to their own devices – says Celeste Costantino -, but families ask for help, because they don’t know how to relate to digital native teenagers. They are afraid of not realizing it, that they will not be able to keep up with developments”. So what to do?
Advanced training coursesMeanwhile, based on the best research results and European experience. Interdisciplinary course, aimed at teachers, school managers and educators, to provide theoretical and operational tools to combat gender stereotypes, prevent violence and support the emotional and relational growth of children, women and adolescents. (For info and details Bicocca Academy | Effectiveness and sexuality education: models, strategies and practices).
And once again, publishing a popular science volumeaimed at schools, institutions and educational stakeholders; seminars and public meetings to disseminate knowledge, create territorial networks and share good practice; recommendations for national legislationso that sexual affective education is recognized as a tool for achieving citizenship, equality and preventing violence.
Words that sound anachronistic, in an age where the centre-right is calling for parental consent and a ban on sexual education in primary and secondary schools, but instead – now more than ever – they are required.
