Consent is recognized as a fundamental human right. The EU has taken steps to ensure that consent is respected and upheld in all types of relationships, including sexual relationships. Specifically, in 2017, the EU adopted the Istanbul Convention, which is a legal framework for addressing violence against women and domestic violence.
Understanding the importance of consent is essential for building healthy and respectful relationships, preventing sexual assault and harassment, and creating a safer and more inclusive society. Despite its importance, however, it has not adequately been addressed in the school curricula across Europe, leaving young people to rely on informal sources such as peers, and mainly the internet for information.
To address this critical issue, KMOP joins forces with 6 European organizations to support educators in discussing consent with kids in the classroom by utilizing drama and storytelling. Through drama and storytelling, young people may use their imagination and creativity to express their thoughts and feelings while exploring complicated themes in a safe and encouraging atmosphere. By enacting various scenarios, young people can investigate methods of communicating their limits, understand the boundaries of others, and react suitably to circumstances where consent is uncertain.
For that purpose, we will develop a Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Programme for Secondary School teachers and Counsellors, covering topics such as i) Introduction to Consent for Students, ii) Ethical and Legal Issues related to Consent, and iii) Drama and Storytelling Techniques. Additionally, we will provide school teachers, students and parents with specific, age-appropriate resources that will support them to:
- develop an understanding of what consent means;
- comprehend legal and ethical frameworks;
- develop skills for expressing consent; encourage reflection and evaluation;
- and foster empathy and understanding.
If you are interested in discovering more about our new initiative “Act4Consent” click here.
