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European Youth Forum unanimously adopts resolution against homophobia
"Integrated approach to combat homophobia" - "Une approche intégrée pour combattre l’homophobie"
Björn van Roozendaal (21/11/2006)
On its General Assembly in Vilnius, Lithuania, the European Youth Forum unanimously adopted the resolution 'Integrated approach to combat homophobia'. The resolution calls for an increased effort of the European Commission to fight against homophobia and for schools to be identified as a key-area in shaping young people's lives, and as such must be a welcoming place for LGBT people to live their sexual orientation or gender expression openly.
The over ninety member organisations of the European Youth Forum demonstrated a widespread support of young people in Europe to fight against homophobia. The umbrella organisation represents a diverse spectrum of e.g. political and religious European Youth organisations, and National Youth Councils. Therefore the unanimous support is heartedly welcomed by IGLYO. Björn van Roozendaal, member of the IGLYO board said: "The resolution shows that young people in Europe do not accept any form of homophobia, and that they demand from European Institutions and their national governments to take proactive measures assuring the wellbeing of LGBT young people. The resolution also is an instrument for Youth Organisations to fight against homophobia in their own organisations. Youth organisations committed themselves to do this."
IGLYO took the initiative for this resolution after the up rise of homophobic events throughout Europe over the past year. Soon many other member organisations of the Youth Forum joined the initiative. For IGLYO the adoption also marked the starting point for a platform in which approaches to homophobia in Youth Organisations will be discussed
DOWNLOAD The Resolution