On 21 March 2025, the Council of Europe SOGIESC Unit, in collaboration with IGLYO, International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer and Intersex (LGBTQI) Youth and Student Organisation, brought together online 18 participants from 14 countries to start developing a tool on inclusive education. The aim is to provide policymakers at the European level with recommendations and examples of best practices on how to create safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environments for all students.

Participants shared their experiences and reflections on the challenges they have encountered when addressing and preventing SOGIESC-based school violence and hate speech in various contexts – whether international, regional, national, or local. They discussed the main obstacles they face, the gaps they have identified, and the resources they have found particularly effective in their respective contexts. The discussion also explored what tools to develop in the context of this activity, what their added value would be and what would be essential elements to include.

As a result of the meeting, a tentative timeline for the development of the tool was agreed upon and a first drafting group will meet in June.

The online kick-off meeting was held under the EU/Council of Europe Joint Project “Combating anti-LGBTIQ violence and hate speech and strengthening awareness raising and fact-based narratives about LGBTIQ persons.”