Nearly 25 years after the introduction of sex education in schools, less than half of young French people aged 18 to 29 report having participated in several sessions during their schooling. This is the finding of a study by Public Health France conducted with more than 2.000 people as part of the "Context of Sexualities in France" survey.
The results show, however, that nearly nine out of ten young people have benefited from at least one sex education session. Younger generations appear to be more engaged: 51% of those under 24 report having participated in several sessions, compared to 39% of 25-29 year olds. This increase is interpreted as a consequence of more consistent implementation of the 2001 law, which mandates three sessions per year per grade level.
Preventing violence from a young age
The study also reveals that these interventions are primarily concentrated in middle school. Eight out of ten young people attended at least one session there, compared to 44% in high school and only 13% in elementary school. The researchers emphasize that this distribution could exacerbate inequalities in access to information, particularly for students facing academic difficulties as early as middle school.
Long focused on contraception, sexually transmitted infections, and abortion, these sessions now increasingly address relationship issues. The topic of consent, for example, was raised by 74% of those under 20 surveyed, compared to 51% of those over 24. The authors believe these initiatives represent a significant tool for preventing and combating gender-based and sexual violence, particularly as a new program on sex, relationships, and relationships was implemented in schools starting in the fall of 2025.
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