Resources

Sexuality and relationships education is a vital tool for promoting gender equality and preventing gender-based violence among young people and within our societies more broadly. School environments are in a privileged position to reach young people and facilitate the development of fundamental life skills, attitudes, knowledge, and values. In particular, during compulsory schooling, there is a window of opportunity for schools to make a strong contribution to building students' skills and awareness of social inequalities and discrimination and empowering them with knowledge and skills to make informed decisions about their lives. In 2022, IPPF EN commissioned a baseline study to assess knowledge, attitudes and comfort relating to gender equality and prevention of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) among students, parents and teachers in northern Portugal. The findings of the baseline study can be downloaded below, together with a 1-page summary of the project.   We will continue to build on this study over the coming 3 years, measuring the impact of our gender transformative sexuality education programme delivered in school settings in Portugal. Going beyond the traditional focus on health outcomes of sexuality education, we aim to study the immediate and long-term effect on young people’s knowledge, attitudes and values regarding gender equality. The evidence we intend to provide is that that gender transformative sex and relationships education is key to the prevention of SGBV.

Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine on 24th February 2022, humanitarian needs have been increasing by the hour. Millions of people across Ukraine are fighting for their lives. As of 6th April 2022, around 11.4 million people have been forcibly displaced, with 7.1 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) and nearly 4.3 million who have fled the country, seeking a safe haven in neighbouring countries. The majority of displaced people and refugees are women and children. The EU must put SRHR and protection from sexual and gender-based violence at the heart of its response to the crisis, in order to respond to the SRHR needs of Ukrainian people, especially of all women, girls and vulnerable and marginalized populations fleeing the war, whether they are in third countries or in EU Member States. Our brief includes recommendations that the EU can adopt within external and internal action in order to deliver on the sexual and reproductive health and rights of refugees and displaced persons. Credit photo: Fine Acts

Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine on 24th February 2022, humanitarian needs have been increasing by the hour. Millions of people across Ukraine are fighting for their lives. Anyone who has been forced to flee or who lives in an area of active fighting is particularly vulnerable, even more so women and girls. People’s access to health services may be suspended or the quality may be low, and they will not have access to lifesaving reproductive health care. They are in a dire state of emergency and further exposed to risk of sexual violence, sexually transmitted infections including HIV and unintended pregnancies. Amid the terrifying devastation experienced through a humanitarian crisis, people need first and foremost safety and protection. Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services can save lives and prevent further suffering. Read below about the urgent actions to be taken by European humanitarian donors and actors.

This is the Safe from sexual and gender-based violence (SfSGBV) toolkit. Its main purpose is to guide the delivery of sexuality education sessions that support young people at risk of marginalization to recognize and protect themselves from SGBV. The toolkit is designed for the use of experienced sexuality education educators. Equally, it is a valuable resource for young people interested to learn more about prevention of sexual and gender-based violence.   You can learn from the toolkit either through our interactive website or by downloading the resource below.