Italy's Senate approved a reform mandating parental consent for sex education and excluding it from primary schools. The government cited protection from 'gender propaganda,' while critics fear restricted access to information for teenagers.
This reform shifts the control over sex education content from educational institutions to parents, potentially impacting public health initiatives and access to information for young people in Italy.
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.
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