Dozens protest against sex education classes in Belgian schoolsLp

BRUSSELS – Dozens of demonstrators took to the streets of Brussels on Saturday to protest against sex education courses in schools, which have sparked controversy in the French-speaking part of the country.

Shouting “don’t touch our children”, protesters sought to challenge the French-speaking authorities’ move to introduce an annual two-hour course for two age groups, intended to answer students’ questions on sensitive subjects.

However, since the start of the new school year, the programme has sparked a backlash on social media and protest calls from ultra-conservatives including Islamic associations and Civitas, a far-right party of mostly ultra-traditional Catholics.