Consent a low bar: The case for a human rights approach to relationships and sexuality education

Abstract

Following some high-profile allegations and a social media petition that saw thousands of young Australians testify to their experiences of sexual violence, Australia is in the midst of a national debate about how education may be deployed to better prevent sexual violence. This focus on relationships and sexuality education (or ‘consent education’) as a tool for harm prevention is narrow: arguably, a right to access such education exists beyond protection from sexual violence—and there is danger in failing to recognise that right.