A CAMPAIGN to make sex and relationships education (SRE) mandatory has been backed by Stroud MP and chairman of the Education Select Committee, Neil Carmichael.
Mr Carmichael met with young people at parliament and lent his support to the Terrence Higgins Trust campaign.
The students highlighted why - in an age of social media, the internet, and equal marriage - sex education must go beyond labelling body parts and biology.
The MP also signed a pledge backing the campaign for compulsory age-appropriate sex and relationships education in all schools.
The event was part of the campaign to End The Silence on Sex and Relationships Education (SRE), by the HIV and sexual health charity.
It released findings last month that showed 75 per cent young people were not taught about consent and 95 per cent were not taught about LGBT relationships.
The survey of 900 people aged 16 to 24 also revealed that one in seven respondents had not received any SRE at all.
Mr Carmichael said: “It was fantastic to hear first-hand from young people visiting the House of Commons today why we need compulsory sex and relationships education in all schools.
“It’s really important that the next generation, who have access to a wealth of information on the internet, are prepared for the realities of the world today – and this includes teaching them about consent, LGBT relationships, STIs and HIV, not just reproduction and body parts.”
Ian Green, chief executive at Terrence Higgins Trust, said: “We’re very grateful to Neil for supporting our campaign to end the silence on sex and relationships education and for meeting with this inspiring group of young people.
“We’ve heard today how the lack of good quality, frequent and compulsory SRE means that young people are leaving school armed with little to no information on anything other than the biological basics of heterosexual sex.
“This is a generation that has grown up with equal marriage, smartphones and social media – the information they are currently given is wholly unfit to prepare them for the realities of sex and relationships today.
“We must end this silence and make SRE mandatory in all schools if we are to tackle issues such as homophobia, bullying, unhealthy relationships and poor sexual health.”
For more information about the campaign visit tht.org.uk/endthesilence
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