Fires and acts of vandalism in schools are shaking Belgium, with the impact of discussions on children’s sexual education in schools. In recent days, six buildings were burned in the city of Charleroi in the south of the country, while two more buildings were targeted in Liège, also in the Wallonia region. The police investigations all lead in the same direction: a move against the Evras school programme. The abbreviation stands for “Education for relational, emotional and sexual life”: a two-hour course per year for two age groups, aimed at answering students’ questions on these sensitive topics. Since the beginning of the school year, the program has sparked a revolt in social networks, fueled by both ultra-conservative circles with Catholic roots, such as the Civitas movement, and Islamic circles supported by the far right. Fueling the flames of protests and unleashing parents’ fears is a conspiracy network determined to spread fake news about the project.
Arson
According to the police, it is now clear that investigations into an “arson” incident in southern Belgium at the beginning of September are linked to opponents of a relationship and sex education course. In the first four kindergartens that were set on fire, writings were found that contradicted the Evras school curriculum, which was officially adopted by the decree of the mostly French-speaking Wallonia-Brussels region. The connection was confirmed to AFP by Charleroi prosecutor Vincent Fiasse, who is leading the investigation. The writings on the walls clearly say “No Evras”. Opponents claim that the program will lead to oversexualization of children, so that children will come into contact with topics that, according to parents, are not age-appropriate.
Targeted animations
The “Evras” program is presented as a two-hour “animation” created by accredited and specially trained external speakers. The program has been implemented on a voluntary basis in Belgium since 2012, but lack of resources prevents the program from being implemented systematically. On September 7 this year, the Wallonia-Brussels Federation unanimously decided to make it compulsory for primary school sixth grade (11-12 years old) and secondary school fourth grade (15-16 years old) students. ). The Federation’s Minister of Education, Caroline Désir, explained that its aim is to “reassure students about questions that arise during adolescence” and “protect them from potentially dangerous or problematic situations”. In this context, the minister referred to the large number of cases of “sexism, sexual violence, gender stereotypes” to which minors are increasingly exposed earlier.
Animations are optional for other age groups 5-6 years old and above. The Evras project website states that the topics covered have been meticulously modeled according to the age range of the relevant classes. Another important point concerns the method: entertainers should always start from the children’s questions, so that they can find answers to their doubts. Preparatory meetings are also planned with faculty members in order to prepare students for these meetings. As the Minister reminded, the animations focus on the management of emotions, the development of self-confidence and even how to cope with the separation of parents, rather than sexuality.
education terrorism
The ministerial office refused to comment on acts of vandalism in Charleroi; instead, Mayor Paul Magnette, who also chairs the Francophone Socialist Party, intervened. Magnette spoke of “barbaric acts” in relation to the fires, condemning them as “a form of terrorism” and vowing that police would “do everything to find those who committed this disgrace.” According to the Threat Analysis Coordination Board (Ocam), which was invited to speak at the Cabinet, “There is no impact on the threat level of the country” but federal police were sent to protect schools in the area.
Opposition front
The anti-Evras front, which did not give up after the police investigations, met in Brussels on Sunday, September 17, at a demonstration attended by approximately 1500 people, especially parents and their children. The posters were written in the hands of a little girl, saying “Our children are our treasure, we must protect them” and even “My childhood belongs to me”. The first protest had already taken place on September 7, when several hundred people gathered against the adoption of the decree. Main battlefield social networksThere is a lot of false news circulating, such as those who describe Evras as a system that teaches “9-year-olds about penetration and pornography” or, as he himself writes, who write that such laws serve to “facilitate pedophiles” Rohff. Following these accusations, Minister Désir said, “Frankly, we will not encourage hypersexualization among young people, nor will we create sexual orientation or gender identity.” “I read that we will teach children to masturbate, it is absolutely unacceptable to scare parents about this,” he defended himself in the radio broadcast. preview.
arguments
Another important issue is the “psychic attack” that emerged in a television debate on LN24 hosted by the “No to Evras” front and supporters of the school programme. Opponents claim that the educational program will introduce ideas into the child’s mind that were not born in the school or family environment. But according to supporters of the law, the real interference comes every day from the outside world, especially through smartphones, which more and more parents use to entertain their children instead of spending time with games or education. For example, pornography can enter the lives of children and young people at any time through the internet. Not talking or discussing these issues can be even more harmful. Another controversial issue is what is called “gender theory”. Evras’ detractors believe the guide for animators is merely a way to introduce ideas aimed at sexual self-determination into schools. It is an unwelcome topic for families who prefer to impose strict direction rather than discuss and listen to their children.
fake news network
Meanwhile, Belgian public broadcaster RTBF, while recognizing parents’ concerns as legitimate, has revealed through an extensive journalistic investigation the existence of a network of controversial figures who have been active for several weeks to lead the opposition against Evras. This network consists of 25 individuals and organizations, including Covid conspiracists, supporters of alternative health methods, a controversial French rapper and a controversial organization dedicated to protecting children, who are engaged in co-ordinated dissemination of numerous lies and funding activities on the Internet. from protesters. Belgian television states that appropriate questions from parents are most likely influenced by misinformation produced by members of this network. The “pedo-criminal” theories against Evras are a pure invention used by these people to terrorize parents and force them to oppose the socialist federal government. But the real danger is criminal activity that has nearly destroyed schools, especially places that children are supposed to consider safe.
Source: Today IT
Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.
