At its 3rd meeting (11-12 March 2024), the Council of Europe’s Committee of Experts on the Prevention of Violence (ENF-VAE) examined the revised draft feasibility study on age-appropriate comprehensive sexuality education to strengthen responses for inter alia preventing and combating violence against children, including risky or harmful sexual behaviour by children. The Committee agreed on the core content of the draft feasibility study and the main elements of a possible recommendation on comprehensive sexuality education with a view to its submission to the Steering Committee for the Rights of the Child (CDENF).

The Committee also agreed to undertake a child consultation on the elements of a draft recommendation on age-appropriate comprehensive sexuality education, as identified in the feasibility study. Four national partners (France, Finland, Spain and Greece) have expressed their readiness to carry out the consultation in their respective countries. 

The ENF-VAE was informed about the progress made on the implementation review of Recommendation CM/Rec(2009)10 on Council of Europe policy guidelines on integrated national strategies for the protection of children from violence. To date 34 states replied to the questionnaire and on the preparation of the draft report on the implementation review of the Recommendation has been initiated.

The Committee re-elected Maria VARGOVA (Slovakia) as Chair and Alina SEEL (Austria) as its Vice-Chair for a last one-year term.

The next meeting of the Committee will be held in Strasbourg on 24-25 September 2024.

 Meeting report