Register here

Universal access to quality sexual and reproductive health care and the ability to exercise sexual and reproductive autonomy and decision-making are integral components of human rights and gender equality. These rights allow people to make informed and meaningful decisions about their own sexual well-being, such as their sexual orientation, gender identity, relationships, sexual activity, family planning or their bodies. Persons with disabilities have the equal right to free and full enjoyment of and access to their sexual and reproductive health, rights, and services as stated in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) which has been ratified by the European Union and its Member States.

Despite the clear inclusion of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services and agendas in the UNCRPD and numerous studies showing the positive impact of sex education on well-being, the sexual rights and needs of young people with disabilities remain largely unrecognised. Although they have similar sexual health needs as their peers without disabilities, research consistently reveals that children and young people with disabilities receive less sex education.

The lack of sexual education in many schools for students with disabilities is particularly alarming given the fact that individuals with disabilities are at a much higher risk of sexual assault and abuse. In fact, children with disabilities are up to four times more likely to face abuse and women with disabilities are nearly 40% more likely to face abuse in adulthood. Yet students in special education classes are often denied the option to participate in sex education at all. When these students are included in mainstream health courses, the curriculum is often inaccessible.

Over the last two years, the GIAff4ID project has aimed aims to break stereotypes around sexual education and the affectivity of young people with intellectual disabilities via the development of a game-based learning approach. As the project comes to an end EASPD invites you to join them for the closing conference which will:

• Raise awareness for the importance of improving access to sex education for young people with intellectual disabilities.
• Foster dialogue between key stakeholders on what is needed to improve sex education for young people with intellectual disabilities.
• Share promising practices and the materials of the GIAff4ID project that can be used to deliver more inclusive and accessible sex education and training.
• Identify the way forward for the delivery of effective sex education programs for people with intellectual disabilities across Europe.

Meeting Location: Rue Guimard 1, Brussels

Lisez le programme en français ici.

Agenda