Oviedo (EFE).- The Ministry of Education has sent this Wednesday to all educational centers -public, subsidized and private- an action protocol with some guidelines for the prevention, detection and intervention of behaviors that threaten the sexual identity of the student body.
These instructions are incorporated as an annex to the protocol against bullying, updated last September, according to the Ministry.
The directorates of the centers must include actions and measures for the prevention, intervention and eradication of discriminatory attitudes for reasons of sexual orientation and identity in the Educational Project of the Center and in the Comprehensive Coexistence Plan, framed in the new educational law (LOMLOE), and they will also materialize in the Annual General Programming (PGA).
Educational centers will have to ensure adequate protection for students who are in a situation of social exclusion, discrimination and violence for the same reasons and, in the event that behaviors that violate sexual orientation and identity are detected, the addresses will open a bullying protocol.
These instructions place special emphasis on the preventive section, promoting awareness-raising, counseling and training activities aimed at the entire educational community, curricular actions and measures to guarantee the rights of students.
According to the established guidelines, any member of the educational community who is aware of or suspects a case must notify a teacher or the management team or the person responsible for guidance so that the protocol against ongoing bullying.
The guidelines list a series of behaviors likely to threaten sexual orientation and identity, such as the repeated use of pejorative nicknames, jokes, mockery, belittling or insults with an affective-sexual connotation, in addition to threats, insults or harassment related to orientation. and sexual identity or that incite physical violence.
It also takes into account the isolation of the group in school and extracurricular activities, the introversion, sadness and affliction of the victim, the repeated unjustified absences from the educational center or the somatizations or outbreaks of emotional lack of control of the people affected.
Action plan against bullying situations
If the educational center concludes that there has been bullying, it must prepare an action plan that will contain measures to be adopted with the victim, with the aggressors and with the observers to correct the detected situation and prevent it from happening again.
These possible measures include assigning a teacher who empathizes with the victim and with the capacity to address their situation, in coordination with specialized educational guidance services and health services.
A protective circle of peers must also be created or act with the harassers, with the observers and with the group-class in which the alleged harasser is.
In the latter case, specific programs on sexual diversity would be developed, as well as meetings and talks with experts to reflect.
In the event that any member of the educational community has knowledge or suspicions that a school minor may be suffering physical aggression or cruelty due to their sexual orientation and identity, they will notify the management of the center that, immediately, will refer you to the competent social services.
If the health or safety of the minor or adolescent is threatened, you must urgently notify the security forces and bodies and/or the Public Prosecutor, in compliance with the organic law for the comprehensive protection of children and adolescents against violence. . EFE