Life-saving sex education law proposed in Parliament after 2 million women suffer domestic abuse in 2025
A new law has been proposed to make Relationships and Sex Education mandatory in the United Kingdom up to the age of 18 to protect women and girls from violence.
Government data shows that 16–19-year-olds face the highest rates of domestic abuse in the UK, more than any other age group, with over 2 million women and girls aged 16+ suffering from it in 2025 alone.
Yet, just as teenagers enter the statistically most at-risk age group – with the average age of first sexual intercourse being 16 – mandatory Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) ends.
600,000 students enter further education a year but, at present, colleges are not mandated to offer RSE, so crucial education depends completely on what institution a teenager attends.
Advert
LADbible, alongside Fumble, Movember and Pivotal, launched the national For F*cks Sake campaign in 2025, producing a range of content to help provide better real-world sex education for young people.
The campaign also urged the government to consider mandated RSE, delivered by specialists rather than teachers, as well as a better understanding of porn in the conversation.
Now, the first step was made on Wednesday, June 17, as a new law was proposed in parliament by MP Alistair Strathern.
New sex education law proposed
Alistair Strathern, Labour MP for Hitchin, has presented a Private Member's Bill which would make RSE a requirement for all young people up to the age of 18.
Strathern has led calls in parliament for schools to take a bigger role in preventing violence against women and girls, and believes Universal RSE is pivotal in helping students to recognise coerice control and other forms of abuse.
"For too long, children in further education have missed out because of gaps in provision of Relationships and Sex Education," Strathern, a former teacher and co-chair of the Labour Group for Men and Boys, said. "At a time when the worst corners of the internet are preying on teenagers, with their own harmful takes on what makes a healthy relationship, we surely owe young people far better than this.
"My bill will put this right and make it mandatory for all settings to give children the space, support and advice they need as they navigate this formative stage.
“With 16–19-year-olds facing the highest rates of domestic abuse of any age group, the real world consequences of failing to act couldn’t be clearer.”
The proposed bill has been supported by campaign partners, the End Violence Against Women Coalition, Make It Mandatory, Sex Education Forum and Brook.
Faustine Petron, Founder of Make it Mandatory said: “For many years I have campaigned for mandatory relationships and sex education to be extended to all children and young people up to the age of 18.
"As someone who experienced an abusive relationship I know how important
such a change could be, to so many young people.
"It is wonderful that Alistair has sponsored this bill, we now need government to honour its commitment to me and the bereaved families who support this campaign by taking it forward and ensuring it becomes law, as we know all too well that it has the potential to change and save lives.”
To become enshrined in law, the bill must pass through three readings and votes.
Topics: Sex Education, PornHub, Sex and Relationships
Daniel Murphy