The EU Parliament has sharply criticized the bill on sex education that was discussed in the Polish parliament. The proposed law aims to criminalize sexual education for minors.
This is done "under the guise of preventing pedophilia," according to a resolution adopted by a large majority of the EU's plenum in Brussels. The MPs are therefore also concerned about a further stigmatization of homosexuals and transsexuals in Poland.
The controversial bill provides "punishable by up to two years' imprisonment for people who publicly propagate or endorse juvenile sex." Anyone who uses his professional position, for example as a teacher in schools, should be able to be punished even harder. The reason given is, above all, the protection of children and adolescents "from sexual depravity and moral decay".
Attila Husejnow / ZUMA Press / imago images
Protests against the planned law on sexuality in Poland in October 2019
The arch-Catholic alliance "Stop Pädophilie" had introduced the bill in Poland by means of a citizens' initiative. The parliament, dominated by the right-wing ruling party Law and Justice (PiS), first debated the text in October. Under the leadership of the Polish opposition parties, the Conservatives, Liberals, Social Democrats, Greens and Leftists put the issue together on the agenda of the European Parliament.
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Already in October, the European Parliament debated highly emotionally about the now adopted resolution. PiS politicians referred to the national right of self-determination in education issues and accused Greens and Social Democrats in particular to defend a pedophile-friendly ideology. This discourse was taken up in particular by the right-wing populist faction of identity and democracy.
The Polish conservative Elzbieta Lukaciejwska, on the other hand, complained that the government of her country was deaf to rational and scientific arguments if she believed that a lack of sexual education protected her from pedophilia. "The Polish government creates fear," said the German Green Rasmus Andresen. Victims of these are especially young women and homosexuals.
