Sex and Relationship Education

The key clauses in the Children Schools and Families Bill addressing Sex and Relationship Education (SRE) were dealt by the Commons Public Bill Committee on Tuesday evening and Thursday morning. The debate highlighted some of the real concerns that CARE has expressed regarding the centralisation and liberalisation of the curriculum and the erosion of parent’s rights.

To read Tuesday’s debate please click HERE, scroll down the heading to clause 11. To read Thursday’s debate please click HERE

The next key stage in the consideration of the SRE Clauses will be at Report Stage on February 23^rd.

European Parliament Written Declaration on Trafficking

A European Parliament Written Declaration (the equivalent of a Westminster Early Day Motion) has been tabled by a group of MEPs led by Liz Lynne (Lib Dem – West Midlands). This calls for the EU countries (a majority – 14 – of them) who have not yet ratified the Council of Europe Convention on Human Trafficking to do so. It also seeks their support for the 2004 EU Directive on the issue which guarantees a minimum cooling off period for victims to remain and receive help in the country where they are found. The Declaration is number 66 of 2009 and entitled ‘Written Declaration on Modern-Day Slavery’.

Please consider contacting your MEP/s to ask them to support this Declaration. You can find details of them at HERE and the text of the Declaration HERE (word document).

The final round of elections for a new President in Ukraine takes place this Sunday. The current President Viktor Yushchenko came third in the first round, so the contest is now between former Communist Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich and the current Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, a Pentecostal Christian who sends official greetings to the European Prayer Breakfast each year. At stake is the legacy of the ‘Orange Revolution’ of 2004 which brought in a pro-Western regime. The disputes with Russia over gas supplies, economic fallout from the world recession and continuing widespread corruption are leading to a decline in popularity for the status quo.