ILGA World’s latest information reveals the necessity for better protection in schools
BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGE BY GNEPPHOTO
Only six UN member states have adopted anti-bullying legislation that protects youth irrespective of their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and sex characteristics (SOGIESC), ILGA World reports. These countries include Andorra, Finland, Greece, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain.
Around 40 UN member states explicitly mention at least one of these grounds in national-level laws, but this still only accounts for one-fifth of the world.
Gurchaten Sandhu, Director of programmes at ILGA World, said: “No matter where we begin our journey, the beliefs that guide us, or the lives we can build for our families, most people want youth to travel safely through an education that can grant them a future. But for far too many, bullying becomes a major roadblock along the way. And when governments refuse to take action, they leave those roadblocks in place – or worse, allow for the debris to fall and make a difficult path into a landslide.”
ILGA World reported that most jurisdictions use education or equal treatment laws to protect young people from bullying. To protect LGBTQIA+ youth, many jurisdictions either prohibit SOGIESC-based harassment in education or legally require educational institutions to incorporate SOGIESC-based bullying in their codes of conduct and policies.
Gurchaten continued: “Bullying harms LGBTI students’ mental health and lowers their academic and job prospects. Its consequences drive up healthcare and social support costs. If States are serious about wanting to create a more economically prosperous future for all, they should know that their inaction is bad not just for LGBTI individuals, but for society as a whole.”
Although the last two years have seen numerous debates about LGBTQIA+ inclusion in the classroom, ILGA World reports that UN member States are looking to protect LGBTQIA+ youth from bullying. The Solomon Islands initiated a public consultation to develop a policy against bullying that considered students’ sexual orientation. In Brazil, the Federal Supreme Court ruled that education authorities must prevent and address bullying on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity as part of their legal obligation to ensure everyone the right to an education without discrimination.
Kimberly Frost and Yuri Guaiana, co-Secretaries General at ILGA World, added: “Today, a powerful few fuel divisions among us and block our efforts to ensure safe and welcoming schools. We must join together and advocate for laws ensuring that every youth can enjoy a high-quality education that lets them pursue their dreams — without exceptions or roadblocks.”
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