FROM this September relationships and sexuality education (RSE) will be mandatory in Wales, an approach most parents will agree with, at least in principle.

Certainly something needs to be put in place to help counter the prevailing culture of male entitlement, misogyny and homophobia. Sadly, this RSE policy is not up to the job.

To take only one aspect: sexual harassment is rife in our schools, encouraged by easy access to pornography and our increasingly sexualised society.

Last year, more than 54,000 stories were sent to Soma Sara’s Everyone’s Invited project — the vast majority from girls. 

They reveal a tsunami of sexual abuse. Female pupils face sexist bullying, body-shaming, upskirting, groping and unwanted sexting on a daily basis. 

This is “rape culture” in action, systematically undermining young women’s boundaries, bodily autonomy and humanity.

No less disturbing were the findings of the Estyn Report on “peer-on-peer” sexual harassment in Welsh secondary schools. 

The report, chillingly titled We Don’t Tell Our Teachers, found that some 60 per cent of female pupils had personally experienced sexual harassment. 

They are the victims of a culture awash with violent pornography; images of the humiliation, debasement and torture of girls and women are just a phone-click away. 

This is a major safeguarding issue. You would expect it to be at the heart of the Welsh government’s RSE code and guidance. 

Yet it is virtually ignored, as is the fact that female pupils are overwhelmingly the victims of sexual harassment, and males overwhelmingly the perpetrators. 

This matters. Neutering sex-based reality blinds us to the importance of single-sex provisions which help ensure the safety, privacy and dignity of female pupils. 

Personal boundaries and consent are set aside. Girls are pressurised to ignore their own needs and feelings and to prioritise male desires. 

It’s a familiar story, repeated endlessly in intimate relationships, friendships, in the workplace and in society generally. And it underpins sexism and sexual inequality.

Since the Welsh government’s RSE code and guidance will not solve these problems, grassroots women’s groups have stepped in to the breach. 

Merched Cymru, LGB Alliance Cymru and Women’s Rights Network Wales are hosting a free webinar on Saturday March 19 — Sex Education in Wales: Promoting a Culture of Safeguarding in Schools. 

A stellar line-up of expert speakers will consider sexism, sexual violence and male attitudes (and how to challenge these). They will share their expertise around parenting and family dynamics; supporting gender non-conforming children and dealing with discrimination towards autistic children. 

They’ll discuss period myths and body shaming, and help define what an effective and compassionate RSE curriculum should look like.  

Above all they will offer solutions, advice, and resources — for parents and teachers.

To find out more, or to book your free tickets, click on this link. mstar.link/MerchedCymru.