Stand Up Awareness Week 2020

Stand Up Awareness Week is taking place from November 16^th-20^th.

Stand Up Awareness Week is supported by the Department of Education and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. The anti-LGBTI+ bullying week, now in its 11^th year is a time for schools to take a stand against homophobic, biphobic, and transphobic bullying. Last year, 58% of second-level schools took part in this anti-bullying campaign.

Stand Up Awareness Week helps to build a school system that values the safety and wellbeing of LGBTI+ students as mandated by the Department of Education and Skills‘ 2013 Action Plan on Bullying which makes it mandatory for schools to address homophobic and transphobic bullying (Circular 0045). Addressing the safety and inclusion of LGBTI+ students is government policy and included in the LGBTI+ National Youth Strategy 2018-2021. Stand Up Awareness Week and the work of BeLonG To Youth Services has been praised as best practice by UNESCO. Special Rapporteur on Child Protection, Dr Geoffrey Shannon’s 2013 report to Government highlighted the serious issue of homophobic and transphobic bullying, describing it as a serious child protection issue.

Stand Up Awareness Week is endorsed by ETBI, ASTI, Teachers Union Ireland, Joint Managerial Body, National Parents Council Post-Primary, Educate Together, Association of Community and Comprehensive Schools, Irish Second-Level Students Association, Institute of Guidance Counsellors, the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals, Foróige, Youth Work Ireland and the National Youth Council of Ireland.

Stand Up Week is taking place from November 16^th-20^th.

Click here for resource packs, curriculum-based activities, and in-class videos.