A new and larger agreement with Samtökin '78

The City of Hafnarfjörður and Samtökin '78 have entered into a new agreement on education, counselling and support for the municipality's students and staff who work with children and young people in their daily school and leisure activities. The municipality began its collaboration with the organisation on education in all the town's primary schools in 2015. The new agreement is broader and larger, and now also includes staff from nurseries and support for professional work at LGBT+ meet-ups at the youth centre Vitanum in Lækjarskóli.

Effective dialogue and collaboration with the organisation have yielded good results.

The main objective of the agreement is to adapt and enhance services for students and staff through education on the issues affecting queer people, based on equality and inherent human rights. Dialogue and good collaboration with Samtökin '78 over the past few years have yielded tangible and important knowledge and a greater understanding of the importance of celebrating diversity in the Icelandic school community and developing education on LGBTQ+ issues in step with the times. The signing of a new and larger agreement is therefore a great cause for celebration for the partners.

Árný Steindóra Steindórsdóttir, Director of the Education and Public Health Department of Hafnarfjörður Municipality, and Daníel E. Arnarsson, Executive Director of Samtökin '78, have signed a new partnership agreement.

The new agreement includes, among other things, the following:

• New primary school staff receive training on people's sexual orientation, gender identity and sex characteristics.
• Nursery school staff receive training on LGBTQ+ issues related to children of nursery school age.
• Young people in Hafnarfjörður are given free access to advice from Samtökin '78 and the opportunity to learn about the organisation's services.
• All Year 9 pupils in the state schools receive an education about the organisation's services.
• Special training for the staff of the youth clubs in Hafnarfjörður
• Staff of queer meet-ups receive advice on activities for queer young people
• Special education and introduction to Samtökin '78 for queer young people

Increased knowledge and open discussion of queer issues

Training for the council's staff aims to further empower them to recognise, understand and discuss the issues affecting queer people in education in Hafnarfjörður. Research shows that understanding and increased knowledge reduce bullying of LGBTQ+ students, increase their quality of life, and encourage them to flourish on their own terms and use their talents. It is intended that the agreement will be reviewed annually and updated in line with the times and new circumstances, where applicable.