Aim and partnership

Funded by the REC programme, the project focuses on a particular kind of gender based violence, which is violence against LGBTI and gender non-conforming children and is being implemented in 9 different countries: Belgium (by Çavaria), Portugal (by CES), Spain (by the University of Girona and the Autonomous University of Barcelona), Croatia (by Zagreb Pride), Greece (by KMOP), Lithuania (by LGL), Slovenia (by the University of Ljubljana), Hungary (by Hátter), and Poland (by Lambda Warsaw).

Methodology & results

The project Diversity and Childhood, now at its latest stage of implementation, foresaw different actions aimed at changing social attitudes towards gender diversity in children across Europe. In general, violence against LGBTI and gender non-conforming children is an issue which is more broadly studied in the educational sphere; this project analyzed and found good practices in the intersection between gender, sexuality and childhood in 5 key areas of children’s lives: education, health, families, public space and media.

The implementation of the project has included an analysis of local realities, research actions with children, as well as 55 trainings of 1100 professionals and stakeholders, among other actions. During the analysis phase of the project, a total 116 stakeholders were interviewed, a total of 634 stakeholders answered a survey and a total of 105 children participated in a workshop to sensitize and evaluate their perceptions, social representations and practices towards LGTBI and gender non-conforming people, including children.

The field research led to the elaboration of 9 national reports as well as an integrative report which presents a comparative analysis on violence against LGBTI+ children in Belgium, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain.

Drawing from the analysis, the Diversity and Childhood partners elaborated a seminar module and 5 training modules for stakeholders, one per project area. Also, the project launched at the end of June a 4-week Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on tools to prevent and combat violence against LGBTI+ children and youth for professionals and stakeholders.

A handbook on addressing LGTBI and gender non-conforming children for professionals from different key areas is also in its final stages of publication and will be available soon in English, French, Croatian, Hungarian, Lithuanian, Polish, Portuguese, Slovenian and Spanish.

More about the project

Check their website for more info.