Chantal Brochmann, coordinator of the National Action Plan for the Promotion of Emotional and Sexual Health (PAN SAS), emphasized the comprehensive nature of the initiative during an interview with our colleagues from RTL Radio on Thursday morning.
“It goes way beyond sex and it’s certainly not just about sex,” Brochmann said, highlighting the broader scope of PAN SAS, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. The plan, which was launched by the Ministries of Health, Family, Education and Gender Equality, now covers all age groups, moving beyond its original focus on children and teenagers.
The primary goal is to provide progressive, age-appropriate education about sexual and emotional health. For example, “with young children,” Brochmann explained, “we focus on emotions rather than sexuality. We focus on questions like what feels good for me? What’s good for my body? Where are the boundaries? These are questions we want to clarify.”
Creating awareness across generations
Training adults, on the other hand, is another challenge. The National Reference Centre for the Promotion of Emotional and Sexual Health (CESAS), operational since 2018, plays a crucial role in this aspect. Every year, CESAS organises a week dedicated to emotional and sexual health, with theme nights where films are shown, followed by debates on topics such as sexual violence and mutilation.
Let’s talk about sex
“We have achieved a lot in the last decade,” Brochmann noted, citing the creation of CESAS as a crucial milestone. She also highlighted the impact of the “Let’s talk about sex” initiative, which has several components. These include a comprehensive directory of verified information for professionals working with young people, toolkits for partners to facilitate educational events, and trainings offered through CESAS. In addition, the initiative has led to the creation of a podcast titled My way of sex (“More Than Sex”), aimed at “anyone with a body.”
Brochmann also celebrated Luxembourg’s recent political milestone: providing free contraception, which she called “remarkable progress.”
Promoting a positive discourse about sexuality
Integral to recent efforts is shifting the narrative around sexuality to a more positive and supportive approach. Brochmann emphasized the evolution from a focus on disease prevention alone to broader discussions that include infections and support for individuals dealing with unwanted pregnancies.
“We need to support women without judging,” Brochmann stressed, emphasizing the importance of women not feeling stigmatized or blamed for their circumstances.
What are the biggest challenges at the moment?
Despite these steps, Brochmann identified social media as a significant challenge to current sex education efforts. She expressed concern about the portrayal of sexuality in negative stereotypes and the pervasive influence of pornography, which exposes children to explicit content at increasingly younger ages.
According to Brochmann, the latest BEE SECURE report indicates that children aged 10-11 are encountering pornographic material. She stressed the need for proactive measures to provide educators and caregivers with the tools and resources needed to effectively address these challenges.
