gender identity awareness training and that institutions should proactively
promote trans equality.62
139. Responding to homophobic and transphobic incidents will require universities
to consider whether there are appropriately trained staff in place to ensure
students affected by such incidents receive the support they need, are properly
informed of their options and are referred to specialist support where necessary.
140. One example of university activity is Brunel University’s Student LGBT Peer
Support Network. This is made up of four students, both undergraduate and
postgraduate and from different backgrounds, who can be approached for advice
and support.63
141. Maintaining a strong understanding of the external support services available to
LGBT+ students who have experienced hate crime and harassment will enable
universities to signpost students to specialist support. A number of relevant
organisations are listed in Annexe D.
142. At a national level, the National LGBT Hate Crime Framework Group has been
set up to map the range and diversity of LGBT Hate Crime service delivery
across the UK. This aims to develop a common programme to increase the
overall opportunities for LGBT people to report homophobic, biphobic or
transphobic hate crime, focusing on existing services to do so.64 This could
provide opportunities for universities to link up with local and regional
organisations, such as Galop (see pp.82–83 of Annexe C), which provide
support to victims and to ensure that institutions are aware of new referral
pathways being established in order to e ncourage reporting.
ANTISEMITISM
143. Reported incidents of antisemitism taking place on university campuses or
affecting university students are relatively low. However, Jewish community
leaders have raised concerns about its occurrence among the university
population. A UUK roundtable on antisemitism revealed that on the whole,
Jewish students have a positive experience of university but there are a number
of on-going issues and occasions where Jewish students feel hostility on campus.
There is a particular concern that students are not reporting incidents to their
university.
144. Taking steps to raise awareness of the seriousness with which incidents will be
treated is therefore essential, as is ensuring a variety of reporting mechanisms.
Any such activity should be underpinned by the university’s corporate
governance arrangements enabling those in a governance role to track trends in
incidents and review the effectiveness of the institution’s prevention activities
and response.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201516/cmselect/cmwomeq/390/39002.htm
http://www.brunel.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/358323/LGBT-Peer-Support-Poster.pdf
64 http://www.lgbthatecrime.org.uk/#project-overview
62
63
46