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EP Declaration on combating homophobic bullying: CALL FOR SUPPORT!

Dear friends,
In close cooperation with IGLYO and ILGA-Europe, the Intergroup on LGBT rights is launching a written Declaration on Combating Homophobic Bullying to the European Parliament. With this Declaration, we hope to get the needed attention to the need for actions against homophobic bullying in European schools. Here follows the text of the declaration, which is available in all different languages of EU Member States.

Why?
The Declaration calls for specific action against the harassment of LGBT young people at school. ILGA-Europe and IGLYO’s report, Social exclusion of young LGBT people, demonstrated that 53% of LGBT young people have already been discriminated against at school. This results in a high percentage of them dealing with mental health issues, e.g. early school-leaving, lower self-esteem, self-harm, and higher suicide rates. Mainstream campaigns addressing schools often forget to tackle the widespread issue of homophobia. Therefore, this Declaration calls for specific actions.

How can you help?
The declaration will only be adopted by the European Parliament if it receives 393 signatures from the Members of the Parliament by the 30th April. In order to mobilise parliamentarians to sign the Declaration, we ask you to get in touch with the offices of political parties in the European Parliament that you know. You can forward them the Declaration, and encourage them to support it.

The Declaration will officially be launched by the UK Conservative MEP John Bowis, at a meeting of the Intergroup on Gay and Lesbian Rights. The meeting will take place on the 14th February at the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

References/Tools:
- Factsheet on Homophobic Bullying (By IGLYO & Ilga Europe) - PDF 50K
- Official List of Member of EU Parliament
- Template of Letter for Lobbying - DOC 26K
- Lettre type - Appel à signature de la déclaration (FR) - DOC 26K

Declaration: "on combating homophobic bullying" Status: ongoing - Date opened : 31/01/2007 - Lapse date : 30/04/2007
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Number of signatories : 177 - 29/03/2007