Standing Up and Standing Out
The UP4Diversity International Conference was a great success, gathering more than 100 participants from at least 10 different countries.
The event was filled with insightful talks, new perspectives, and dynamic discussions about the daily challenges faced by LGBT+ people, creating greater awareness of how each of us can be an upstander in our everyday lives.
Participants were particularly interested in successful experiences of standing up against LGBT+ bullying and violence.
Several approaches and initiatives were presented, each highlighting different aspects of the issue and offering practical insights.
Knowledge, skills, and literacy among teachers and young people were identified as key factors in combating violence and discrimination against LGBT+ youth.
Speakers encouraged everyone to actively take a stand against any form of violation.
Another crucial element discussed was social transformation-the gradual shift toward a more inclusive and less discriminatory society.
In this context, having trusted friends who will stand up for you plays a major protective role, both during an incident of abuse and in the recovery process afterwards.
Creating safe spaces for learning and development-whether personal, social, or educational-was also highlighted as a key strategy for preventing and addressing violence and discrimination.
Classrooms, schools, and leisure activities were seen as natural spaces where children and young people can co-create inclusive environments that are comfortable and respectful for all.
Similarly, comprehensive sexual education was recognized as an essential tool to foster diversity and inclusion and to prevent violence, discrimination, bullying, and abuse against LGBT+ youth.
These examples represent only a small selection of successful strategies in preventing LGBT+ violence, but they serve as inspiration and motivation to develop one's own approach to these issues.
To explore the full range of strategies and keynotes, visit the UP4Diversity YouTube channel, where the complete presentations from the International Conference are available.
We will continue this important work and hope that many more of you will join us on this journey.
Together, we can build a diverse and inclusive global society-one in which, eventually, the need to stand up will no longer exist.
