Europe-wide action to end homophobic bullying

10.35.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 22nd Feb 2007

Liberal Democrat MEP for London Baroness Sarah Ludford, a member of the European Parliament's Intergroup on Gay & Lesbian rights, has added her support to a written declaration on combating homophobic bullying.

Commenting on this initiative, Sarah said:

"The European Parliament has consistently condemned homophobia both inside and outside the EU. With this written declaration, we are calling on member state governments to fight homophobia in education, to support LGBT youth groups and to organise a peer review to disseminate best practice on combating homophobia in schools."

"This initiative highlights the scourge of day-to-day violence which affects many LGBT young people. Bullying has a serious effect on victims, not only in terms of their potential to achieve in school, but also their quality of life and mental health."

"Liberal Democrats in the UK have been leading the campaign against homophobic bullying in schools, calling for the introduction of concrete measures to support and protect victims."

"It is now time the EU, as a values community, also stepped up its action to stop intolerance. Homophobic violence must be treated as the human rights breach that it is."

Notes

The Written Declaration on combating homophobic bullying is a joint initiative of the Gay and Lesbian Rights Intergroup and the Trade Unions Intergroup. The full text of the written declaration is available at < http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//NONSGML+WDECL+P6-DCL-2007-0011+0+DOC+PDF+V0//EN&amp;language=EN > http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//NONSGML+WDECL+P6-DCL-2007-0011+0+DOC+PDF+V0//EN&language=EN

To sign the Liberal Democrats petition calling for support and protection for victims of homophobic bullying, go to < http://www.libdems.org.uk/campaigns/stop-homophobic-bullying.16622.html> http://www.libdems.org.uk/campaigns/stop-homophobic-bullying.16622.html