A 68-page report for “Standards For Sexuality Education in Europe” first published in 2010 is drawing ire from interested parties, according to The Daily Mail.
The report came from the World Health Organization. The group is being urged to withdraw the guidance, which opponents call “disturbing.”
According to the report, children under four should “ask questions about sexuality” and “explore gender identities.” The report was targeted to policy makers across Europe.
The Daily Mail also reports the guidance supports giving information to kids under four about “enjoyment and pleasure when touching one’s own body, early childhood masturbation.”
Increased scrutiny has followed the guidance after Welsh ministers who introduced a mandatory sexual ed syllabus last year consulted the guidance, though the Welsh government said it didn’t “endorse” the guidance from the WHO.
Laura Anne Jones, a Welsh politician, said the government should “distance themselves” from the “frankly disturbing” WHO suggestions.
Tanya Carter, a member of the campaign group called Safe Schools Alliance, said the organization finds it “extremely concerning” the UN and WHO are promoting an approach that is “experimental, unscientific and appears to be aligned to the work of unethical individuals and organizations, including those promoting the acceptance of pedophilia.”
According to The Daily Mail, the WHO is standing by its guidance, claiming they reflect “established psychological facts based on decades of research.”
The guidance states:
“From birth, babies learn the value and pleasure of bodily contact, warmth and intimacy. Soon after that, they learn what is ‘clean’ and what is ‘dirty.’ In other words, they are engaging in sexuality education.”
