Sexuality education in Lithuania

Problem

Lithuania, as a member of the European Union (EU), is committed to following the EU guidelines and policies in the field of sexuality education. The EU recognizes the importance of sexuality education and encourages member states to implement it in their education systems, ensuring that this education is consistent, reliable, and of high quality, and that sexuality education policy is based on key principles established in EU legislation and political documents such as:

• The Lisbon Treaty, which establishes the principle of gender equality and the goal of eliminating gender-based discrimination;
• The Stockholm Program, which includes issues related to gender equality and the prevention of sexual harassment;
• Resolution on the situation of sexual and reproductive health and rights in the European Union, particularly as it relates to women’s health, including sexuality education, promotion of accessibility to contraception, reproductive rights and health, prevention and care of sexually transmitted diseases;
• The Daphne III program, aimed at implementing and monitoring measures against violence towards children, youth, and women;
• The Istanbul Convention, aimed at combating violence against women in close relationships.

In Lithuania, sexuality education has been included in the general education program since 2007. The content and methods of this education may vary depending on schools, teachers, and local communities. National education guidelines cover topics such as sexual and reproductive health, contraception and family planning methods, gender equality, and prevention of sexual harassment. These topics are included in various subjects (such as biology, ethics, etc.) or organized through special educational programs, adapting the educational content to the level of development and needs of young people.

However, sexuality education remains a sensitive and debatable topic. The reasons for this can include restrictions on sexuality education programs and content due to various factors, including:

• political decisions, ideology, and shortcomings in the education system;
• topics related to gender are still considered taboo in our society, and it can be difficult to openly discuss them. This can hinder open and informed discussions about sexual and reproductive health and gender equality;
• socio-cultural customs and conservative attitudes can contribute to the avoidance or neglect of these topics;
• the attitudes of the Catholic Church, which has significant influence in society and education, towards sexuality and gender, can be contradictory and make it more difficult to accept new perspectives and potential practices in the dissemination of sexuality education;
• insufficient recognition of the need and importance of sexuality education for violence prevention, positive body acceptance, setting boundaries in relationships, communication skills, etc., can also be a challenge.

To overcome these challenges, it is necessary to carry out public awareness and education, promote open and healthy discussions about sexual and reproductive health, gender equality, and sexuality education.

Goal

The goal of this project – empower those working with youth to implement comprehensive sexuality education.

Participants

2022/23

Deimantė Adamonė