BelgiumBelgium governmentCrimeGeneral NewsSex educationWorld News Controversial Sexual Education Program Incites Tensions and Arsons in Belgium: Government Takes Action by Gabriel Martinez September 15, 2023 written by Gabriel Martinez September 15, 2023 10 comments Bookmark 27 Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo announced last Friday that he will consult government specialists on extremism following a spate of arson attacks on schools. The incidents are believed to be related to a contentious sexual education initiative known as the Evras program. The announcement came shortly after the torching of a sixth educational institution in the French-speaking region of Wallonia this week. Authorities found signs decrying the Evras program at some of the burned schools. The Evras program, now mandatory, provides four hours of instructional training for students aged between 11-12 and 15-16. Its goal is to assist young people in developing healthy relational and sexual lives. While the program has existed for years as an optional offering for all age groups, it has recently become compulsory. Prime Minister De Croo stated unequivocally, “In a democratic society like ours, we cannot allow our educational institutions to be attacked. While we are a nation that values tolerance and open debate, such dialogue should never escalate into violence, especially in settings frequented by children.” Table of Contents Additional Reports from BelgiumFrequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Belgium School Arsons and Sexual Education ControversyWhat is the main issue causing the arson attacks on schools in Belgium?Who are the key government figures responding to the crisis?What steps are being taken by the Belgian government to address the situation?What is the stance of Islamic organizations on the Evras program?Are there any public protests against the Evras program?What kind of misinformation is circulating about the Evras program?Are the arson attacks limited to a specific region in Belgium?Has anyone been arrested or claimed responsibility for the arson attacks?How many students are affected by the mandatory implementation of the Evras program?What is the stance of local officials on the arson attacks?More about Belgium School Arsons and Sexual Education Controversy Additional Reports from Belgium Brussels Midi Station’s Transformation: From Elegant Gateway to National Concern Competing Again for UNESCO World Heritage Status: World War I Memorials in France and Belgium Policy Change in Belgian Asylum Shelters: Focus Shifts to Family Accommodations Over Single Men Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden also demanded an immediate cessation of these attacks during a joint press conference with Prime Minister De Croo. “Our schools are off-limits. This is a non-negotiable red line,” Verlinden stressed. In response to the arsons, De Croo has directed the intelligence body responsible for terrorism, extremism, and radicalization to assess the current situation. Verlinden has likewise called upon federal police forces to bolster local enforcement in the affected areas. Thus far, no individual or group has taken responsibility for the fires, and no arrests have been made. Approximately 100,000 students in the Wallonia-Brussels federation are mandated to participate in the Evras program’s two sessions, totaling four hours. Public demonstrations, albeit modest in size, have occurred in Brussels. Furthermore, multiple Islamic organizations released a collective statement expressing concerns that the Evras program could contribute to the “hypersexualization” of minors. Speculation and misinformation regarding the nature of the Evras program are proliferating online. In response, De Croo noted that Belgium has been providing sexual education for 50 years and has no intention of regressing. “It serves not only as the foundation for sexual health but also equips our youth with an understanding of their rights and bodily autonomy,” De Croo stated. Education Minister for the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, Caroline Desir, also sought to quell the circulating rumors about the program, saying, “I urge everyone to refrain from succumbing to falsehoods about the Evras system. It neither fosters pedophilia nor encourages children to change gender or engage in sexual activities.” In a related development, local media outlets have cited the prosecutor’s office in the city of Charleroi, stating that thus far, no direct connections have been established among the six arson attacks. Charleroi Mayor Paul Magnette likened the incidents to “a variant of terrorism,” asserting, “Schools are sanctuaries for learning respect and tolerance.” Finally, reports have emerged that two additional schools in the Wallonia-based city of Liege have also been subject to vandalism. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Belgium School Arsons and Sexual Education Controversy What is the main issue causing the arson attacks on schools in Belgium? The main issue believed to be causing the arson attacks on schools in Belgium is the controversy surrounding a sexual education program known as the Evras program. It has recently become mandatory and provides four hours of instructional training for students aged between 11-12 and 15-16. The program aims to assist young people in developing healthy relational and sexual lives. Who are the key government figures responding to the crisis? The key government figures responding to the crisis are Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden. De Croo has announced that he will consult government specialists on extremism and Verlinden has called for an immediate cessation of the attacks. What steps are being taken by the Belgian government to address the situation? The Belgian government is taking multiple steps to address the situation. Prime Minister De Croo has directed the intelligence body responsible for terrorism, extremism, and radicalization to assess the current situation. Interior Minister Verlinden has called upon federal police forces to bolster local enforcement in the affected areas. Both are actively participating in press conferences to keep the public informed. What is the stance of Islamic organizations on the Evras program? Several Islamic organizations have expressed concerns about the Evras program, releasing a collective statement suggesting that the program could contribute to the “hypersexualization” of minors. Are there any public protests against the Evras program? Yes, there have been public protests in Brussels against the Evras program, albeit modest in size. What kind of misinformation is circulating about the Evras program? Misinformation regarding the nature of the Evras program is proliferating online. Rumors suggest that the program fosters pedophilia, encourages children to change gender, or teaches children how to engage in sexual activities. Government officials, including the Education Minister for the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, Caroline Desir, have actively sought to quell these rumors. Are the arson attacks limited to a specific region in Belgium? The arson attacks are primarily occurring in the French-speaking Wallonia region of Belgium. Has anyone been arrested or claimed responsibility for the arson attacks? As of the latest reports, no individual or group has taken responsibility for the fires, and no arrests have been made. How many students are affected by the mandatory implementation of the Evras program? Approximately 100,000 students in the Wallonia-Brussels federation are mandated to participate in the Evras program’s two sessions, totaling four hours. What is the stance of local officials on the arson attacks? Charleroi Mayor Paul Magnette likened the incidents to “a variant of terrorism,” asserting that “schools are sanctuaries for learning respect and tolerance.” The prosecutor’s office in Charleroi has stated that no direct connections have been established among the six arson attacks. More about Belgium School Arsons and Sexual Education Controversy Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo’s Official Statement Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden’s Press Conference Wallonia-Brussels Federation Education Minister Caroline Desir’s Remarks Joint Statement from Islamic Organizations on the Evras Program Charleroi Prosecutor’s Office Investigation Update Public Protests in Brussels: News Coverage Misinformation and Rumors Surrounding the Evras Program: Fact-Checking Reports Federal Police Involvement in Wallonia: Official Announcement Overview of the Evras Program: Educational Policy Document Paul Magnette, Mayor of Charleroi, on School Arsons: Interview You Might Be Interested In An Oklahoma man used pandemic relief funds to have his name cleared of murder Hurricane Norma makes landfall near Mexico’s Los Cabos as Tammy threatens islands in the Atlantic Canada Passes Law Requiring Google and Meta to Compensate Media Outlets for News Evolving crisis fuels anxiety among Venezuelans who want a better economy but see worsening woes Twitter’s Compliance with Europe’s Stringent Big Tech Regulations Under Scrutiny Abortion Rights Advocacy Faces Persistent Opposition Despite Democratic Support BelgiumBelgium governmentCrimeEducational PolicyEvras ProgramGeneral Newsgovernment responseIslamic OrganizationsMisinformationPublic ProtestsSchool ArsonSex educationSexual EducationWallonia Region Share 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail Gabriel Martinez Follow Author Gabriel Martinez is a science and technology journalist who covers the latest news and developments in the world of science. He is passionate about exploring new frontiers in technology, from artificial intelligence to space exploration. previous post UK Neonatal Nurse Convicted of Killing 7 Infants Initiates Appeal Process next post Oregon Initiates Legal Access to Psilocybin with Strong Public Interest and Anticipation for Enhanced Mental Health Treatment You may also like Bookmark A woman who burned Wyoming’s only full-service abortion... December 28, 2023 Bookmark Argument over Christmas gifts turns deadly as 14-year-old... December 28, 2023 Bookmark Danny Masterson sent to state prison to serve... December 28, 2023 Bookmark Hong Kong man jailed for 6 years after... December 28, 2023 Bookmark AP concludes at least hundreds died in floods... December 28, 2023 Bookmark Live updates | Israeli forces raid a West... December 28, 2023 10 comments SarahInFinance September 16, 2023 - 12:32 am I get that ppl have different views on sexual education but this is too much. Burning schools? Come on, that’s not a solution. Reply JohnDoe123 September 16, 2023 - 1:52 am Wow, never thought I’d see the day when schools get burned down over sex ed. This is crazy! What’s happening to Belgium?? Reply HistoryGeek September 16, 2023 - 3:27 am Its like we’re going backwards. Sexual education has been around for decades, and now its causing schools to burn? What a time to be alive. Reply PoliticalWatch September 16, 2023 - 4:31 am What’s intriguing is the political response. De Croo and Verlinden seem to be taking this vry seriously. Actions should speak louder than words tho. Reply CryptoGuru90 September 16, 2023 - 5:52 am Unbelievable! Gov’t needs to step in hard. If they’re consulting extremism experts, things must be really bad. Reply MomOfThree September 16, 2023 - 10:41 am as a parent, this scares the heck out of me. Our kids deserve to learn in a safe environment, no matter what the curriculum is. Reply TechNerd September 16, 2023 - 11:41 am Rumors about Evras hypersexualizing kids? I’ve seen those fake news on social media. Good to know the government’s trying to set the record straight. Reply CarEnthusiast September 16, 2023 - 12:09 pm Imagine being so angry about an educational program that you’d endanger kids. makes no sense to me. Reply TravelBuff September 16, 2023 - 3:49 pm Was planning a trip to Belgium next year but now I’m having second thoughts. Doesn’t seem like the safest place atm. Reply InvestorMike September 16, 2023 - 6:45 pm This whole situation could have an economic impact too. Investors don’t like instability, and right now, Belgium seems anything but stable. Reply Leave a Comment Cancel Reply Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ