By agreeing to the Western agenda of promoting sexual freedoms, does Serbia risk its geopolitical independence?
Asked about the spiritual dimension of the Russo-Ukrainian conflict, the Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia, Kirill, offered the most precise interpretation of the war’s background to date: “Russia is a shield against the attacks of globalism and the onslaught of the West, which has plunged into Satanism.” Does it sound overstated?
Let’s then look into the agenda of the left-liberal elite that brutally promotes the rights of homosexuality and institutionalizes all kinds of perversion. Does the explanation of Satanism that the West deliberately dictates to the world still seem unfounded?
Or, to avoid any doubts that it’s about abstract human freedoms without geopolitical significance, it’s simpler to recall what Lieutenant General Franklin Ben Hodges, former commanding officer of the U.S. ground forces in Europe, once stated about the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue. Summarizing the U.S.’s role in resolving the Kosovo issue, the American general warned of the danger from the Serbian Church, and consequently the Russian Church. The symmetries Hodges drew between stability in the Balkans and the Christian values promoted by the Church are neither forced nor senseless. The general knows what he is talking about just as much as the NGOs funded by the West know they are not in the business of spreading human rights but are part of a strategic project aimed at civilizational conversion and the eradication of Christian values. Can there be physical occupation if the spiritual one is not declared successful? Ukraine is the most eloquent example that it cannot.
GENDERISM FOR THE YOUNGEST
Serbian intellectuals have repeatedly warned that the imposition of educational programs on preventing violence and sexual education is an expression of Western occupation, the far-reaching consequences of which can be measured by the effect of the bombing in 1999. The assessment is not exaggerated.
By issuing such a judgment, Serbian intellectuals had in mind that the “group for protection from violence and discrimination,” which operates within the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia, in cooperation with non-governmental organizations such as the Incest Center, Autonomous Women’s Center, Center for Education and Child Rights Research, Center for Educational Policies, ASTRA, and Labris, developed a plan for sexual education in schools. School principals provided the program link to teachers, and the controversial content was on its way to being included in the following subjects: Serbian language; The World Around Us; Nature and Society; Physical Education and School Sport; Music Education; Civic Education; Biology; Sociology; Constitution and Citizens’ Rights, and Psychology.
Even preschool children are not spared the ideologically questionable content, served in the form of coloring books and other types of training. The program has stirred up a lot of dust in Serbia, but despite announcements of public discussions, numerous petitions, and the indignation of intellectuals, the Ministry has not issued its verdict.
ORGASM FOR BEGINNERS
The lack of reaction from the Ministry is less worrying than the tacit consent of the teaching staff faced with the choice of protecting the moral pattern of Serbian society or their job. The fact that many decided not to risk their employment further complicates the narrative of Western action in Serbia. And what these educational contents actually offer was publicly warned by Miša Đurković, director of the Institute for European Studies, in 2017 on the pages of “Politika.” “When these voluminous books are opened, it is noticed that the so-called fight against domestic violence is actually envisioned and realized as a promotion of homosexuality and pornography, encouraging child sexuality, encouraging experiments in that field, and disparaging the traditional family. About 50% of the materials promote homosexuality and pornography. In a biology manual, children can learn how to properly perform a French kiss, but to the questions of whether there is a male and female condom? What is a female condom used for? The answer is given that girls who love girls use protection when making love. Sometimes it is important to bear in mind that lesbian women may not have always identified as lesbians, so they have their sexual prehistory as straight people. Within a lesbian love relationship, the means of protection are latex or polyurethane sheets (very thin, made of soft plastic), square in shape, which are used to cover female genitals or anus during oral sex. They help as a barrier to prevent sexually transmitted diseases. Oral and anal sex and orgasm are then described in detail.”
Reality has refuted all the efforts of the Ministry to portray the program as effective. Although the Ministry of Education started implementing a program called “School without Violence” in 2005 – paradoxically, violence doubled within just one year. Several years later, the number of suicides among children in primary and secondary education caused by peer violence reached unprecedented and devastating numbers. Ignoring the media and reality, the Ministry remained at the assertion that after the implementation of this program, schools became a safer place. Parents whose children are victims of peer violence, and whose number is alarmingly large, do not share that opinion. For them a victim is a victim, no matter how much the Ministry tries to present it as a statistical data.
NGOs OR MONITORING STAFF?
In justifying and promoting new values, the key role has been given to the non-governmental sector, which found itself in the role of monitoring staff amid the indignation of the Serbian public.
Some of the most significant NGOs involved in these activities in Serbia are:
- Incest Trauma Center: This organization deals with the prevention and support of victims of sexual violence. They are active in providing education and support to teachers and students.
- Labris: Focuses on the rights of LGBT+ people and actively promotes gender equality through educational programs in schools.
- Autonomous Women’s Center: Organization that deals with women’s rights and the promotion of gender equality, often involved in educational programs on sexuality and violence prevention.
- Center for Education and Child Rights Research (CEIR): NGO working on the protection of children’s rights and promoting inclusive education through various educational programs.
- Center for Educational Policies (CEP): deals with the development and implementation of educational policies that include gender equality and inclusive education.
- ASTRA – Action against Trafficking in Human Beings works on the prevention of human trafficking and provides assistance to victims, including education in schools about the risks and prevention.
- Peščanik is an NGO dedicated to promoting gender equality and human rights through various educational and research projects.
FUNDING PATHS
NGOs involved in shaping the school curriculum, textbooks, and gender ideology in Serbia are funded from various international and local sources. Let’s look at some of the main sources of funding:
- International funds and organizations:
- Global Fund for Women: This organization supports women’s groups around the world, including in Serbia, in the fight for gender equality and sexual and reproductive rights.
- UNESCO: Actively promotes comprehensive sexual education and supports various projects in Serbia aimed at improving the health and education of youth.
- Rise Up: This organization invests in local solutions and strengthens the leadership of women and girls, including in Serbia, to transform their communities and promote sexual and reproductive health.
- UNICEF: Funds education and child protection programs, including those promoting gender equality and children’s rights.
- OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe): Supports various projects dealing with human rights, gender equality, and education in Serbia.
- Local funds and donors:
- Ana and Vlade Divac Foundation: Supports initiatives to improve education and promote human rights in Serbia.
- Local governments and ministries: In some cases, local governments and ministries may fund NGO projects that align with their priorities and strategies.
- Private donations and corporate support:
- Private donors and patrons: Individuals interested in supporting gender equality and education can donate to NGOs.
- Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): Some corporations may support NGOs through their CSR programs focused on education, health, and human rights.
HIDDEN AGENDA
The listed NGOs use financial support to implement various programs and projects aimed at allegedly improving education, supporting victims of violence, promoting gender equality, and inclusive education. NGOs such as the “Incest Trauma Center,” “Labris,” and the “Group for Protection from Violence and Discrimination” have broader mandates. Since they operate within the Ministry of Education, they are actively involved in the development and implementation of educational programs. Their mission, as they claim, is to protect children from violence and promote gender equality. In cooperation with the Ministry of Education, these organizations have developed and introduced sexual education programs into the school system, with the aim of educating children about their rights and ways to protect themselves.
Given that most of their financial support comes from abroad, these NGOs also conduct activities on a broader scale – organizing seminars, workshops, and training sessions for teachers and students, providing them with tools and knowledge that should contribute to creating a safe school environment. Behind these promotional actions, in most cases, lies a hidden agenda – the promotion of values that are not in line with Serbia’s traditional and cultural norms. The controversy is evident.
PLANNED DIVISION OF THE SERBS
Traditionally inclined towards conservative moral patterns, Serbia has been left confused. The confrontation for and against sexual education has deeply divided Serbian society. Some parents, teachers, and intellectuals have supported the program, convinced that its implementation will contribute to better understanding and protection of children from sexual violence. On the other hand, a significant part of the public has warned that the idea of sexual education as a school subject is an attack on the traditional values and moral structure of Serbian society. Parents and religious leaders have agreed that sexual education, as designed, undermines the authority of the family and the Church, and is aimed at introducing Western values that are contrary to Orthodox teachings and the age of the children.
A new division among Serbs could begin. In the struggle over who is right, Serbs have not noticed that they are on the same task as the NGOs whose values they dispute. Make no mistake – disagreements on the modernization of educational content are not just a side effect and expression of opposing opinions. It is an item from the agenda. The empire knows the value of details.