Political Sex Guide gives young people insight into choices about sex and sexuality

The Sex Guide - www.politiekesekswijzer.nl - addresses abortion, among other issues. This is an extremely topical issue given recent developments in Argentina, Poland and the Netherlands. Should the government abolish the mandatory five-day waiting period under the Termination of Pregnancy Act (WAZ)? Voluntary waiting periods could be introduced instead, with women deciding on these themselves together with their healthcare provider. The VVD, D66 and PvdA support this, while the Christian parties and the SP do not.

Action Plan on Sexual Violence

Another statement in the Sex Guide asks whether a national Action Plan on Sexual Violence should be introduced to prevent it. All political parties support this plan. Sexual violence still occurs far too often. More than half of all women and 1 in 5 men have experienced it at some point. This often results in lifelong psychological and social harm.

Female genital mutilation and child marriage

The Sex Guide also includes the statement that the Netherlands should comply with international financial agreements on development cooperation. Only the VVD believes this is unnecessary. This is an important issue, especially during the coronavirus pandemic. Every year, more than 4 million girls undergo female genital mutilation and 12 million girls are married off. In the coming year, coronavirus is expected to result in an additional 2 million girls undergoing female genital mutilation and 13 million child marriages not being prevented.

Free HIV and STI testing

The Political Sex Guide also asks young people whether HIV and STI testing should be available free of charge to everyone. This is currently not the case. Testing is free through the municipal health service, but far from everyone can access it there. With a general practitioner, testing falls under the compulsory excess. The CDA, VVD and SGP do not want testing to become free of charge. In their view, people have a personal responsibility in this regard. Young people are also asked in the Sex Guide whether PrEP, a pill that prevents you from contracting HIV, should be made available free of charge. PrEP can reduce healthcare costs, but the pill is currently only available to people at high risk of HIV. GroenLinks, PvdA, SP, Bij1 and PvdD support this idea.

Sex should be possible during lockdown

The Sex Guide produces a number of remarkable findings. For example, all political parties believe that singles should still be able to have sex despite the strict lockdown, and the SGP also believes that all schools should address the positive aspects of sex, relationships and love.

Putting sex and sexuality on the agenda

With the Sex Guide, its initiators want to put the subject of sex and sexuality, both nationally and internationally, more firmly on the agenda among young people and politicians. All political parties expected to win at least one seat in the elections were invited to participate in the Sex Guide. VVD, CDA, D66, PvdA, Groenlinks, SP, ChristenUnie, PvdD, SGP, 50+ and Bij1 responded to the invitation. The statements were selected partly on the basis of what young people consider important and address current issues such as coronavirus, abortion and STI testing.