2026-06-032025/26:UbU23 · p.8UbUEducation
Knowledge Area of Sexuality, Consent and Relationships
The subject area of sexuality, consent and relationships in the curricula
What's at stake: The decision affects how visible and prioritised this subject area becomes for schools and teachers, at a time when the supervisory authority has identified quality shortcomings in teaching on sexuality, consent and relationships. It concerns whether an explicit presence in the curriculum's introduction is needed to ensure the area is not diminished in practice.
Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.
What the vote decides
The question is whether the subject area of sexuality, consent and relationships - including honour-related violence and oppression - should continue to be explicitly named in the curricula's introductory sections, or whether it is enough for the area to be covered through syllabuses and the principal's remit without being singled out in the overarching curriculum text.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee shares the government's view that the curricula should be purposefully designed and form a coherent whole focused on teaching and learning, in line with a new approach to knowledge. It therefore sees no reason to make an exception to this streamlining for individual subject areas in the curricula's introductory sections.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 8 (S, V, MP)
The reservation (S, V, MP) calls for the subject area of sexuality, consent and relationships, together with honour-related violence and oppression, to continue to be named in the curricula's introductory sections. The reasoning is that the schools inspectorate has found quality shortcomings in teaching on the subject, that it belongs to the school's democratic and values-forming remit, and that removing the area from the introductory sections risks weakening the overall perspective and downplaying issues that instead need to be reinforced.
Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.
What do the votes mean here?
Yes The committee proposal: rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 8 by S, V, MP.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
What each plan points to — and how the party voted
For each party: the vote its own election manifesto and party programme point to in this case, next to how the party actually voted. A plan can only point to Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| Plan | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | No 0/21/0/0 | follows the plan | confidence: high | not addressed |
| S | No | No 0/106/0/0 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| MP | No | No 0/18/0/0 | follows the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
| C | No | Abstain 0/0/22/2 | departs from the plan | confidence: high | not addressed |
| L | No | Yes 16/0/0/0 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| KD | No | Yes 19/0/0/0 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| M | Yes | Yes 66/0/0/0 | follows the plan | confidence: low | derived |
| SD | No | Yes 70/0/0/0 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects the motions 2025/26:3998 by Isabell Mixter et al. (V) demand 3, 2025/26:4022 by Anders Ygeman et al. (S) demand 1, 2025/26:4036 by Niels Paarup-Petersen et al. (C) demand 4 and 2025/26:4054 by Camilla Hansén et al. (MP) demand 4.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2025/26:3998 av Isabell Mixter m.fl. (V) yrkande 3, 2025/26:4022 av Anders Ygeman m.fl. (S) yrkande 1, 2025/26:4036 av Niels Paarup-Petersen m.fl. (C) yrkande 4 och 2025/26:4054 av Camilla Hansén m.fl. (MP) yrkande 4.
Riksdag decision: There shall be a stronger focus on knowledge in school. The Riksdag approved the government's proposal which collectively aims at a school with the knowledge mission in focus. New curricula shall be developed for lower secondary, middle secondary and upper secondary education. The Riksdag shares the government's view that Sweden needs a strong knowledge-based school where teachers have good conditions to perform their task and where all pupils are given the conditions to achieve the goals of education. There is a need for a new approach to knowledge and new curricula that focus on teaching and learning. The Riksdag's decision includes the following: It shall be clear that school's most important task is to convey and anchor knowledge and values. Teachers' role shall be strengthened. It shall be the teachers who, based on the curriculum, determine and lead the teaching. The new curricula for compulsory school forms shall be clearly knowledge-focused and the level shall be adapted to children's cognitive development. There shall be a strong focus on basic knowledge and skills, such as reading, writing and arithmetic. The curricula shall also have a more fit-for-purpose structure and the content shall be based on principles that promote high and equitable quality. New course plans for basic Swedish shall be introduced for pupils who are beginners in the Swedish language. The principle of overall assessment shall apply to all grade levels, that is, also for grade E. Most of the legislative changes take effect on 1 July 2028. New curricula for primary school, adapted primary school, special school and Sami school shall begin to be used from autumn term 2028.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants education to have a dual purpose emphasizing students' role in acquiring and developing knowledge. (S, V, MP) — Reservation 8
Plan vs actual vote
Every party, in chamber order: what its own plan pointed to, how it voted, and the reasoning behind both. Highlighted rows are where the two differ — but a vote that follows the plan is a result too, so the reasoning is there for every party.
The plan highlights sex education's role and demands that schools and preschools work preventively against destructive norms and that society takes forceful action against honour-based oppression and sexual violations.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan highlights sex education's role and demands that schools and preschools work preventively against destructive norms and that society takes forceful action against honour-based oppression and sexual violations. This speaks in favour of the subject area of sexuality, consent and relationships remaining in the prominent parts of curricula rather than being downplayed. The committee's reasoning is a matter of curriculum purification, which the plan does not express itself on.
Original (Swedish)
Planen lyfter sexualupplysningens roll och kräver att skolor och förskolor arbetar förebyggande mot destruktiva normer och att samhället tar krafttag mot hedersförtryck och sexuella kränkningar. Det talar för att kunskapsområdet sexualitet, samtycke och relationer ska stå kvar i läroplanernas inledande delar snarare än tonas ned. Utskottets skäl är en fråga om läroplanernas renodling, som planen inte uttalar sig om.
- the role of sex educationdecisive»Sexualupplysningen spelar en viktig roll i att bygga upp den kunskap« (party programme ↗)“Sex education plays an important role in building up the knowledge”
- school's preventive norm work»Skolor och förskolor behöver arbeta förebyggande mot destruktiva normer för att alla barn, oavsett kön, ska kunna leva fria.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Schools and preschools need to work preventively against destructive norms so that all children, regardless of gender, can live free.”
- against honour-based oppression and violence»I ett tryggt samhälle tar vi krafttag mot våld, hedersförtryck och sexuella kränkningar mot kvinnor, barn och hbtqi-personer.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“In a safe society we take forceful action against violence, honour-based oppression and sexual violations against women, children and LGBTQI people.”
- the school's values-based mandate»Vi vill se en skola med ett brett uppdrag« (party programme ↗)“We want to see a school with a broad mandate”
The plan requires tough action against honour-related violence and oppression, sexual offences and violence by men against women, and wants to scale up society's role in fostering good citizens.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires tough action against honour-related violence and oppression, sexual offences and violence by men against women, and wants to scale up society's role in fostering good citizens. That the knowledge area of sexuality, consent and relationships as well as honour-based oppression remain in the early parts of curricula serves these commitments. The plan does not, however, state a position on the curricula's structure.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver krafttag mot hedersrelaterat våld och förtryck, sexualbrott och mäns våld mot kvinnor, och vill skala upp samhällets roll i att fostra goda medborgare. Att kunskapsområdet sexualitet, samtycke och relationer samt hedersförtryck står kvar i läroplanernas inledande delar tjänar dessa åtaganden. Planen uttalar sig dock inte om läroplanernas struktur.
- against honour-based oppressiondecisive»Kraftfullt bekämpande av hedersrelaterat våld och förtryck och stöd för utsatta.« (party programme ↗)“Forceful action against honour-related violence and oppression and support for those affected.”
- tough action against sexual offences»Krafttag för att stoppa hedersrelaterat våld, sexualbrott och mäns våld mot kvinnor.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Tough action to stop honour-related violence, sexual offences and violence by men against women.”
- against violence by men against women»Kraftfullt bekämpande av mäns våld mot kvinnor, våld i nära relationer samt stöd till« (party programme ↗)“Forceful action against violence by men against women, violence in close relationships and support for”
- school's values education mission»Samhällets roll i att fostra goda medborgare och öka sammanhållningen skalas upp.« (party programme ↗)“Society's role in fostering good citizens and increasing solidarity is scaled up.”
The plan explicitly requires that all students receive equal sex and relationships education where consent is in focus and that the work against honor-related violence and oppression is strengthened.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan explicitly requires that all students receive equal sex and relationships education where consent is in focus and that the work against honor-related violence and oppression is strengthened. The counter-proposal wants these knowledge areas to continue to appear in the introductory sections of curricula, which is the same thing in substance. A downplaying of the areas runs counter to the plan's requirement for a consent culture that permeates society.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver uttryckligen att alla elever får en likvärdig sex- och samlevnadsundervisning där samtycke står i fokus och att arbetet mot hedersrelaterat våld och förtryck stärks. Motförslaget vill att just dessa kunskapsområden fortsatt ska framgå av läroplanernas inledande delar, vilket är samma sak i sak. En nedtoning av områdena går emot planens krav på en samtyckeskultur som genomsyrar samhället.
- consent education for all studentsdecisive»att en samtyckeskultur ska genomsyra samhället — alla elever ska få en likvärdig sex- och samlevnadsundervisning, där samtycke står i fokus.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“that a consent culture shall permeate society — all students shall receive equal sex and relationships education where consent is in focus.”
- work against honor-related oppression»stärka arbetet mot hedersrelaterat våld och förtryck så att likvärdig hjälp ges i hela landet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“strengthen the work against honor-related violence and oppression so that equal assistance is provided throughout the country.”
- promote consent culture»Dessutom behöver vi bekämpa hederskulturen och dess normer, samt främja samtyckeskultur och förebyggande insatser för att förändra destruktiva mansnormer.« (party programme ↗)“Furthermore, we need to combat honor culture and its norms, and promote consent culture and preventive measures to change destructive male norms.”
- tough action against violence and oppression»Miljöpartiet vill se krafttag för att mäns våld mot kvinnor, hedersförtryck, sexhandel och våld i nära relationer ska upphöra.« (party programme ↗)“The Greens want to see tough action for men's violence against women, honor-related oppression, sex trafficking and violence in close relationships to cease.”
flags: citat_migrerat
The election manifesto explicitly requires that all schools shall have action plans against honor-based violence and that preventive work shall permeate the entire society with the foundation laid already in preschool and school.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto explicitly requires that all schools shall have action plans against honor-based violence and that preventive work shall permeate the entire society with the foundation laid already in preschool and school. Moving the knowledge area sexuality, consent and relations and honor-related violence out of the curriculum's opening sections weakens precisely that mission. The plan also establishes that school shall be a safe place free from harassment based on sex.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet kräver uttryckligen att alla skolor ska ha handlingsplaner mot hedersförtryck och att det förebyggande arbetet ska genomsyra hela samhället med grunden lagd redan i förskolan och skolan. Att flytta ut kunskapsområdet sexualitet, samtycke och relationer samt hedersrelaterat våld ur läroplanernas inledande delar försvagar just det uppdraget. Planen slår också fast att skolan ska vara en trygg plats fri från trakasserier grundade på kön.
- action plans against honor-based violencedecisive»Alla kommuner ska ha handlingsplaner för att förebygga mäns våld mot kvinnor och alla skolor ska ha handlingsplaner mot hedersförtryck.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“All municipalities shall have action plans to prevent men's violence against women and all schools shall have action plans against honor-based violence.”
- preventive from school onwards»Därför är det viktigt att förebyggande insatser genomsyrar hela samhället och att det offentliga lägger grunden redan i förskolan och skolan.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Therefore it is important that preventive measures permeate the entire society and that the public lays the foundation already in preschool and school.”
- safe school environment»Skolan ska vara en trygg plats« (2022 manifesto ↗)“School shall be a safe place”
- against honor-related violence»Våld i nära relationer, sexualiserat våld, hedersrelaterat våld och kränkningar« (party programme ↗)“Violence in close relationships, sexualized violence, honor-related violence and abuse”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan explicitly requires that preschool and school work against honour-related oppression shall be strengthened and that schools shall actively work for democracy, equality and human rights.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan explicitly requires that preschool and school work against honour-related oppression shall be strengthened and that schools shall actively work for democracy, equality and human rights. That moving the knowledge area out of the curriculum's introductory parts weakens instead the assignment the plan wants to strengthen. The plan's will to separate curricula toward facts and knowledge weighs lighter than the explicit commitment against honour oppression.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver uttryckligen att förskolans och skolans arbete mot hedersrelaterat förtryck ska stärkas och att skolan aktivt ska verka för demokrati, jämställdhet och mänskliga rättigheter. Att flytta ut kunskapsområdet ur läroplanens inledande delar försvagar tvärtom det uppdrag planen vill förstärka. Planens vilja att renodla läroplanerna mot fakta och kunskap väger lättare än det uttryckliga åtagandet mot hedersförtryck.
- strengthened work against honour oppressiondecisive»Förskolans och skolans arbete mot hedersrelaterat förtryck ska stärkas och både flickor och pojkar ska mötas av samma höga förväntningar i sitt skolarbete.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Preschool and school work against honour-related oppression shall be strengthened and both girls and boys shall be met by the same high expectations in their schoolwork.”
- school's values-based assignment»Utbildningssystemet ska inte vara värderingsfritt. Skolan ska aktivt verka för demokrati, jämställdhet och mänskliga rättigheter.« (party programme ↗)“The education system shall not be value-neutral. Schools shall actively work for democracy, equality and human rights.”
- support against honour-based coercion»Personal i förskola, skola och fritids måste stöttas att stå emot krav om att upprätthålla religiöst eller hedersbaserat tvång.« (party programme ↗)“Staff in preschool, school and leisure time must be supported to resist demands for maintaining religious or honour-based coercion.”
- knowledge-focused curricula»Läroplanerna ska revideras och få ett större fokus på fakta och kunskap.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Curricula shall be revised and gain greater focus on facts and knowledge.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan gives the school two equivalent main tasks: knowledge development and, together with parents, educating students to be responsible citizens, and requires that human dignity permeates the school environment.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan gives the school two equivalent main tasks: knowledge development and, together with parents, educating students to be responsible citizens, and requires that human dignity permeates the school environment. That the knowledge area of sexuality, consent and relationships as well as honour-related violence remains in the introductory parts of curricula follows from that value-based mission. The plan's emphasis on equality work early in education points in the same direction.
Original (Swedish)
Planen ger skolan två likvärdiga huvuduppgifter: kunskapsutveckling och att tillsammans med föräldrarna fostra eleverna till ansvarsfulla samhällsmedborgare, och kräver att människovärdet genomsyrar skolmiljön. Att kunskapsområdet sexualitet, samtycke och relationer samt hedersrelaterat våld står kvar i läroplanernas inledande delar följer av det värdegrundsuppdraget. Planens betoning på jämställdhetsarbete tidigt i utbildningen pekar åt samma håll.
- school's dual missiondecisive»Skolan har två huvuduppgifter: dels att stimulera elevernas intellektuella och praktiska kunskapsutveckling och kritiska tänkande och dels att, tillsammans med föräldrarna, fostra eleverna till ansvarsfulla samhällsmedborgare.« (party programme ↗)“The school has two main tasks: partly to stimulate students' intellectual and practical knowledge development and critical thinking and partly to, together with parents, educate students to be responsible citizens.”
- human dignity in school»Övertygelsen om alla människors absoluta och okränkbara värde ska genomsyra skolmiljön.« (party programme ↗)“The conviction that all humans have absolute and inviolable worth shall permeate the school environment.”
- equality and tolerance»Solidaritet med svaga och utsatta, jämställdhet mellan könen och tolerans för människors olikheter är förhållningssätt som ska främjas.« (party programme ↗)“Solidarity with the weak and vulnerable, equality between genders and tolerance for people's differences are approaches that shall be promoted.”
- equality work in school»Jämställdhetsarbetet i hela utbildningsväsendet är viktigt, särskilt i de tidiga åldrarna.« (party programme ↗)“Equality work throughout the education system is important, particularly in early ages.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan wants to streamline curricula around measurable factual knowledge and do away with a vague knowledge view, which speaks against individual knowledge areas being incorporated into the opening sections of curricula.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to streamline curricula around measurable factual knowledge and do away with a vague knowledge view, which speaks against individual knowledge areas being incorporated into the opening sections of curricula. The plan's strong commitments against honour oppression are instead driven through criminal law and mandatory civics education. The counter-proposal's demand for exemptions from streamlining therefore meets resistance in the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill renodla läroplanerna kring mätbara faktakunskaper och göra upp med en vag kunskapssyn, vilket talar emot att enskilda kunskapsområden lyfts in i läroplanernas inledande delar. Planens starka åtaganden mot hedersförtryck drivs i stället genom straffrätt och obligatorisk samhällsorientering. Motförslagets krav på undantag från renodlingen möter därför motstånd i planen.
- streamlined knowledge curriculumdecisive»Fokusera på mätbara faktakunskaper, med inspiration från Finlands läroplan« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Focus on measurable factual knowledge, inspired by Finland's curriculum”
- measurable goals in curriculum»Mätbara fakta i kurs- och läroplanerna.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Measurable facts in course and curricula.”
- honour work through civics education»Införa jämställdhet och hbtq-personers rättigheter som en del i den obligatoriska samhällsorienteringen för nyanlända« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Introduce equality and LGBTQ+ people's rights as part of mandatory civics education for newly arrived”
- zero tolerance for honour crimes»Moderaterna vill införa en nolltolerans mot hedersbrott.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The Moderate Party wants to introduce zero tolerance for honour crimes.”
The plan requires that schools receive a clearer mandate to identify children living under honour culture, that measures against honour-based oppression are coordinated and that vulnerable children receive special education about the rights that apply to everyone in Sweden.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that schools receive a clearer mandate to identify children living under honour culture, that measures against honour-based oppression are coordinated and that vulnerable children receive special education about the rights that apply to everyone in Sweden. The counter-proposal's demand that honour-related violence and oppression continue to be stated in the introductory parts of curricula is in line with that mandate. The plan's opposition to political experiments in schools pulls in another direction, which is why the assessment is uncertain.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att skolan får ett tydligare uppdrag att identifiera barn som lever i hederskultur, att insatserna mot hedersförtryck samordnas och att utsatta barn får särskild utbildning om vilka rättigheter som tillkommer alla i Sverige. Motförslagets krav på att hedersrelaterat våld och förtryck fortsatt ska framgå av läroplanernas inledande delar ligger i linje med det uppdraget. Planens motstånd mot politiska experiment i skolan drar åt andra hållet, varför bedömningen är osäker.
- schools' mandate against honour culturedecisive»Skola, socialtjänst och rättsväsende måste få ett tydligare uppdrag att identifiera barn och unga som misstänks leva i hederskultur och möjlighet att sätta in kraftiga åtgärder mot vuxna som utövar sådant förtryck.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Schools, social services and the justice system must receive a clearer mandate to identify children and young people suspected of living under honour culture and the opportunity to implement severe measures against adults who exercise such oppression.”
- coordinated honour-based measures»Samordna insatserna mot hedersförtryck« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Coordinate measures against honour-based oppression”
- education about rights»Beslöjning bör förbjudas i skolan och barn från kulturer där hedersproblematik är vanligt bör få regelbunden uppföljning av skolhälsovård och kurator samt särskild utbildning om vilka rättigheter som tillkommer alla i Sverige.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Veiling should be prohibited in schools and children from cultures where honour issues are common should receive regular follow-up by school health services and counsellors as well as special education about the rights that apply to everyone in Sweden.”
- against experiments in schools»Avsluta de politiska experimenten på Sveriges barn och unga« (2022 manifesto ↗)“End the political experiments on Sweden's children and young people”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2025/26:UbU23)
- Committee report full text (HD01UbU23)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2025/26:3998 — med anledning av prop. 2025/26:194 Nya läroplaner - för en stark kunskapsskola av Isabell Mixter m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2025/26:4022 — med anledning av prop. 2025/26:194 Nya läroplaner - för en stark kunskapsskola av Anders Ygeman m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2025/26:4036 — med anledning av prop. 2025/26:194 Nya läroplaner - för en stark kunskapsskola av Niels Paarup-Petersen m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2025/26:4054 — med anledning av prop. 2025/26:194 Nya läroplaner - för en stark kunskapsskola av Camilla Hansén m.fl. (MP)
- Proposition 2025/26:194 — Nya läroplaner - för en stark kunskapsskola
Source: The Swedish Parliament