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Réf. DC 088(2016)

Harassment of LGBTI children must have no place in schools, says Secretary General ahead of International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia

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Strasbourg, 13.05.2016 – In the run-up to the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia marked on 17 May, Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjørn Jagland spoke out against homophobic and transphobic bullying in schools in Europe, a grave and often disregarded problem.

“Homophobic and transphobic name-calling, bullying and harassment of LGBTI children have a serious effect on their well-being – and at times a tragic ending. They must have no place in our schools,” Secretary General said. “It is a duty of governments, school administration and teachers, parents – all of us, adults, to make sure that our children can study in a safe environment, free from violence, bullying and discrimination on all grounds, including their sexual orientation or gender identity. No child in Europe should become a victim of discriminatory and degrading treatment.”

The Council of Europe in its Recommendation on combatting discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity, and the recently adopted Council of Europe Strategy for the Rights of the Child  2016-2021 stresses the importance of strengthening the role of education in preventing specific forms of violence, including homophobic bullying at schools.

On 18 May, the Council of Europe and UNESCO are organising a joint meeting for European ministers and government officials on combatting homophobic and transphobic bullying at schools, within the framework of the UNESCO International Ministerial Meeting in Paris focusing on education sector responses to violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity and expression.

Links:

Database of best practices of the Council of Europe member States, including on combatting homophobic bullying

Council of Europe’s work on sexual orientation and gender identity issues

Contact : Tatiana Baeva, Spokesperson/Press officer, tel. +33 6 85 11 64 93