Violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity/expression is a form of gender-based violence that targets those who are, or are perceived to be, lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. In the last decade, education sectors in Europe have started to increasingly acknowledge and recognise this form of violence and its impact in schools. Furthermore, a number of states have developed a range of responses, predominantly on the level of policy, to address discrimination and abuse targeting sexual and gender minorities in schools. To review the situation in Europe and to produce a baseline for assessing future trends, the Council of Europe commissioned a comprehensive study examining how education systems work to create safe learning environments for LGBT students. Drawing on the key findings of the aforementioned study, the article outlines data on the nature and impact of violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity/expression, advances knowledge on how the member states address the safety of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students in national and school-level policies and discusses positive outcomes of an inclusive school policy.
