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Northern Ireland

Welfare and Protection of Pupils. Department of Education (Northern Ireland) Circular 2003/13
This Circular highlights to Principals and Boards of Governors their responsibility to develop measures to prevent bullying.
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Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 prohibits direct and indirect discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation in admission and access to any type of service or benefit. These regulations specifically cover education. They require that pupils must not be refused entry to school on the grounds of their sexual orientation or the sexual orientation of their parents or carers. They also require schools to treat homophobic bullying as seriously as other forms of bullying.
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Education and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Order 2003
Article 18 of the Order places a duty on Boards of Governors to safeguard and promote the welfare of all pupils and Article 19 to protect pupils from abuse and bullying.
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Effectively challenging homophobia in schools will help to meet the aims of a range of strategies promoting the health and wellbeing of children and young people, particularly the Promoting Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy and the Northern Ireland Suicide Prevention Strategy and Action Plan (2006-2011).
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The Education Minister recognises the importance of tackling homophobic bully. The foreword to ‘Leave it Out. Developing anti-homophobic bullying practice in schools (Save the Children 2008)’ states that:

‘Homophobic bullying is of rising concern in the north of Ireland. Continual verbal and physical abuse, along with isolation, will result in our young people achieving less than their full potential and leading to them leaving school early. This cannot happen – we must all work together to help stop it.’
Caitriona Ruane, Education Minister
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The Equality Bill (2009) is likely to be passed by the Westminster Parliament to become law in 2010. It will require public authorities to promote equality on the grounds of sexual orientation in line with existing duties covering race, gender and disability.
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