The consequences of bullying on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity are an all too common reality in schools around the world. Bullying can impact access to quality education, and as a result can leave individuals vulnerable to health risks and long-term social effects.
UNESCO’s Good Policy and Practice in HIV and Health Education – Booklet 8: Education Sector Responses to Homophobic Bullying lays out the context, extent, and impact of homophobic bullying in educational settings, and lessons learned and good policies and practices to respond to homophobia in schools.
The Korean National Commission for UNESCO has recently released the translation of the Good Policy and Practice booklet in the Korean language.
The translation includes a foreword from the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, who has long championed the issue of equal rights for all. In the foreword Mr. Ban states: “I am personally committed to leading international action to stop these egregious human rights abuses, which harm the mental and physical health of learners who do not conform to existing gender norms, including those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT). This constitutes a violation of the right to quality education enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.”
“In the Korean educational system that values tradition, homophobic bullying is not an easy topic to discuss publicly,” stated Mr. Dong-seok Min, the Secretary-General of the Korean National Commission for UNESCO, in recognition of the translation’s importance for the country. “The Korean National Commission for UNESCO, therefore, published this booklet to shed light on this very important issue ... to help prevent homophobic bullying of any sort from reaching perilous levels.” 
Rainbow Action Ivan School Team, an NGO supporting the right to education for LGBT youth, and the translators of this publication, commented that: “School ought to be a place where youth meet friends from different backgrounds, but also a place for learning about diversity and tolerance.” They added that by addressing homophobia, “the number of students that are being excluded due to bullying or school violence will ultimately decrease… Quality education is only truly achieved when exclusion is nonexistent and inclusion universal.”
Addressing homophobic and transphobic bullying is part of broader efforts to support the right to education and Education for All (EFA).
In the words of Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon: “Let us make schools safer for all young people, including the LGBT members of our human family. They are born free and equal, with full dignity and rights, and they deserve our protection and respect.”
For the link to the English publication of Good Policy and Practice: Booklet 8 http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0021/002164/216493e.pdf
For the link to the Korean publication of Good Policy and Practice: Booklet 8 http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0021/002164/216493kor.pdf
For more on UNESCO’s work to address homophobic bullying:
Related Link:
Korean National Commission for UNESCO