EU opposes bill that would protect children from abuse

BRUSSELS, Belgium, November 20, 2019 (LifeSiteNews) ― Over 400 members of the European Parliament have voted to pass a resolution criticizing a Polish bill called “Stop Pedophilia” that seeks to protect minors from sexual abuse by adults.

The “Stop Pedofilii” bill seeks to make the incitement of minor children to sexual activity illegal in Poland. According to Euronews, the 471 MEPs who voted on November 14 to condemn Poland for the potential legislation were particularly concerned about the possibility of teachers and activists being sent to prison for promoting or approving underage sex.

That part of the bill states that “anyone who promotes or approves sexual intercourse or other sexual activity by a minor, in connection with performing the position, occupation, or performing activities related to upbringing, education, health care or care of minors, or operating on school premises or other educational or child care institution, is liable to imprisonment up to three years.”

The opening items in the bill stipulate fines, restricted liberty, or imprisonment for anyone who promotes or praises pedophile activity.

The age of consent in Poland is currently 15. According to the “AgeofConsent.net” website, anyone who has sex with a child under 15, including another child under 15, in Poland can be charged with statutory rape.

Opponents of the bill described it as seeking to “criminalize sex education in Poland.” However, defenders of the bill said it was designed simply to stop adults from encouraging minors to have sex and to protect the right of parents to direct their children’s sexual education themselves.

Polish journalist Krystian Kratiuk told LifeSiteNews via email that the European Parliament’s resolution was an “obvious scandal.”

“The EU Parliament has no right to interfere in Poland's internal affairs, including its education system,” he said.

Kratiuk explained that the “Stop Pedofilii” bill was submitted by Polish citizens themselves. The Polish Constitution allows for the introduction of a bill by ordinary citizens as long as it is signed by a group of 100,000 or more Poles who have the right to vote. The “Stop Pedofilii” citizen’s project has been signed by 265,000 Polish voters.

“It’s curious that the Left in Brussels wants to intervene in a legislative process based on the will of citizens,” Kratiuk said.

“After all, what is this about? A citizens’ project that prohibits inciting minors to have sex!”

The journalist underscored that the bill is not a ban on all sexual education.

“If someone during a sex education lesson persuades minors to have sex, according to this project they should, of course, be punished, but this is absolutely not about banning sex education as such.”

An explanatory note attached to the “Stop Pedofilii” bill gives some historical context for the proposal. It says some sex education teachers have been promoting sexual activity, including homosexual acts and masturbation, to Polish children, thanks to sexual education standards for Europe composed by the World Health Organization and the German Federal Center for Health Education (BZgA). These standards were introduced to Poland for the first time in 2013.

“According to the Standards, children of the age of 0–4 should learn information regarding masturbation and enjoying pleasure by touching their bodies,” the note states.

Apparently, the Standards also stipulate that children from the age of 4–6 are supposed to know how to express their own sexuality and sexual feelings as well as “take pleasure and joy in” masturbating. Children aged 6–9 must learn about sexual consent and different methods of intercourse and contraception. Children between 9 and 12 are supposed to learn how to use condoms, learn about their first sexual experiences, and receive information about orgasms. Children between 12 and 15 should be able to communicate about their own and their partners’ desires “in order to have safe and pleasant sex.”

“According to the Standards, at every step of development there is also intensive familiarizing of children with homosexuality,” the note adds.

Krystian Kratiuk sees the debate over the “Stop Pedofilii” bill as another battle between a left-leaning European Parliament determined to impose its worldview and a proud nation that cares deeply for its children.

“The Left dominates the EU Parliament,” he told LifeSiteNews.

“Although Poles were promised before they joined the EU that they would always be sovereign in worldview, the Left wants to decide from Brussels what Polish teachers teach Polish children,” he continued.

“Poles will never agree to this.”

Kratiuk believes that his countrymen will particulary resent the attempts of MEPs to condemn a bill against pedophilia as an attempt to deprive people of their freedoms and their right to education.

However, he admits that there are Poles among the MEPs and activists who object to the “Stop Pedofilii” bill. Kratiuk told LifeSiteNews that left-wing Polish activists invite their “progressive colleagues from all over Europe” to Poland.

“They are common traitors to the Polish cause ― to Polish religious beliefs, to Polish tradition, and to the Polish family.”

Kratiuk is pessimistic about the chances that “Stop Pedofilii” will gain a majority vote in the Sejm, the lower house of Poland’s Parliament.

“MPs will probably ‘freeze’ it, just as they did with the citizens’ bill completely prohibiting abortion,” he said.


One hundred twenty-eight MEPs voted against the condemnation of the “Stop Pedofilii” Bill, and 57 abstained.