Key facts
- Italy's Senate approved a reform requiring parental consent for sex education in schools.
- The reform excludes sex education from nurseries and primary schools.
- Schools must inform families at least seven days in advance of sex education initiatives.
- The government stated the reform protects minors from 'gender propaganda'.
- Opposition parties criticized the reform for potentially restricting teenagers' access to information.
Italy's Senate has given final approval to a reform that mandates parental consent for sex education in schools. The legislation, championed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's right-wing government, also stipulates that sex education will not be offered in nurseries and primary schools. Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara stated that the reform aims to protect minors from 'gender propaganda' and reinforce the constitutional principle of parental responsibility in education. Schools are now required to provide families with at least seven days' notice regarding any sex education initiatives, including details about external experts or organizations involved. The bill faced opposition from parties like the Greens and Left Alliance, whose co-leader Angelo Bonelli described the requirement for parental consent as an 'institutional absurdity.' Catholic group Pro Vita & Famiglia praised the reform, asserting it would empower parents to reject initiatives promoting gender fluidity, abortion, or surrogate motherhood. A 2025 survey by Save the Children indicated that only 47% of Italian teenagers had received sex education, which is not compulsory in Italy.