Sexualized discrimination, harassment and violence at universities

Sexualized discrimination and violence at universities must not be a taboo subject. Instead, the goal should be to provide competent advice to affected members of the university in such a situation, i.e. to employees and students, while also structurally establishing preventive measures. The University of Potsdam acknowledges its responsibility in this respect and is working actively on the realization of professional consulting services.

What exactly is sexualized discrimination and violence?

“Sexualized discrimination and violence are forms of gender discrimination, offenses against the principle of equal treatment, and assaults on the dignity and personal rights of those affected. This includes unwanted sexualized remarks and acts as well as serious crimes like stalking, assaults, and rape.” (Commission “Sexualized Discrimination and Violence at Universities” of the Federal Conference of Women’s and Equal Opportunity Officers at Universities (bukof), September 2018). Bundeskonferenz der Frauen- und Gleichstellungsbeauftragten an Hochschulen (in German)

In accordance with the Brandenburg Higher Education Act (BbgHG), the equal opportunity commissioners at the University of Potsdam welcome suggestions and accept complaints from university members. Therefore, they can also be contact persons in cases of sexualized discrimination and violence at the university. At the central university level, the central equal opportunity commissioner is the contact person and confidential counselor, at the decentralized level (faculties, academic and central institutions, libraries) her decentralized representatives.

I have been a victim of sexual violence. Who can I turn to?

The Equal Opportunities Officers at the University of Potsdam are your points of contact in cases of sexual harassment, discrimination and violence at the university. At the central university level, the central equal opportunities officer is the contact person and confidante, while at the decentralised level (faculties, scientific and central institutions, libraries), her decentralised representatives serve in this capacity.

General Conditions on Counseling Offers of the Equal Opportunity Commissioners

Internal Contact and Advisory Offices (University of Potsdam)

Internal Complaints Office according to §13 General Ac t on Equal Treatment (GETA) at the University of Potsdam

Legal conditions:

According to the General Equal Treatment Act (GETA), Allgemeinem Gleichbehandlungsgesetz (AGG) the University of Potsdam is obligated to receive and deal with complaints of employees if a person experienced discrimination by:

the employer,
superiors,
other employees or
third parties

on the grounds of:

race or ethnic origin,
gender,
religion or belief,
disability,
age or
sexual identity.

Note: In its current version, the GETA only refers to employees but not to students. Therefore, the University of Potsdam will develop a university-wide strategy for protection against discrimination within two years after the new higher education contract comes into force (signed on March 21, 2019). Part of this strategy will be a guideline that takes up the GETA discrimination prohibitions and subsequently applies to all members of the university. Until this will be implemented, the above-mentioned internal and external contact and counseling centers for students offer possibilities for support.

Responsibilities:

According to §13 GETA, the complaints office is the Division of Human Resources and Legal Affairs of the University of Potsdam (D3), which is located on the Neues Palais campus in building 3. The responsible contact person is the director of the department and his/ her deputy.

Note: An official complaint is usually preceded by a consultation. Please use the above-mentioned counseling and contact points at the university for this purpose. If you wish, the equal opportunity commissioners will support you in the complaint procedure.

Procedure:

The above-mentioned complaints office has to examine the respective complaint in accordance with §13 GETA and has to inform the complaining employee of the result (so-called right of complaint).

Subsequently, in accordance with §14 GETA, suitable measures must be taken by the employer to prevent harassment or sexual harassment. If the employer fails to do so or if the measures are obviously unsuitable, the affected employees are entitled to stop working without loss of pay insofar as this is necessary for their protection (Section 273 German Civil Code (BGB) (§273 des Bürgerlichen Gesetzbuches (BGB) remains unaffected) (so-called right to refuse performance).

Information on labor law provisions in the case of sexualized discrimination and violence can be found on the homepage www.arbeitsschutzgesetz.org (employment protection act ).

External Contact and Counseling Services in Berlin, Potsdam and the surrounding regions

Trigger warning: This page contains information about contact and counseling offices in case of sexualized discrimination and violence.

Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency
- Provides counseling and advise in cases of discrimination on the basis of gender or sexual identity
- Internet presence barrier-free (in easy language) and multilingual (English, Arabic)
Federal Association of Rape Crisis Centers and Women’s Counseling Centers (Bundesverband Frauenberatungsstellen und Frauennotrufe. Frauen gegen Gewalt e.V.):
- Help and support for girls and women confronted with any form of violence, in life crises, or cases of emergency
- Internet presence barrier-free (in easy language) and multilingual (English, Turkish, Arabic)
- Concrete help and assistance at your respective place of residence or according to counseling topics
Violence Against Women Support Hotline (Bundesweites Hilfetelefon Gewalt gegen Frauen): 0800 0116 016 (free of charge within Germany)
- For women affected by violence, relatives, friends and experts
- 365 days a year, available around the clock
- Anonymous, competent, safe
- Internet presence barrier-free (in easy language) and multilingual (counseling in 17 languages)
Immediate medical care and confidential securing of evidence after rape in the federal state of Brandenburg
- For women and men
- Without reporting to the police
- Costs are usually covered by the respective health insurance company
- Participating hospitals in the federal state of Brandenburg: among others Ernst v. Bergmann Klinikum Potsdam
Clinic for the Protection against Violence Gewaltschutzambulanz Charité Berlin (Birkenstraße 62, building N, 10559 Berlin):
- Forensic examination and documentation of visible injuries
  - In cases of domestic violence in (former) relationships
  - Injuries after interpersonal violence
  - Sexualized violence (medical care takes place in the first-aid posts of the Charité)
  - Experiences of violence in service/ at the workplace
  - Child abuse (Referral only by institutional organizations)
- Consultations by phone +49 30 450 570 270: Monday - Friday 8:30am – 3:00pm
- Examinations: Monday - Friday: 8:00am – 4:00pm
- Multilingual internet presence (English, Russian, Polish)
Autonomes Frauenzentrum Potsdam (Alter Markt 6, 14467 Potsdam, phone: 0331 90 13 13) (in German)
- In cases of acute domestic violence: +49 0331 96 45 16 (woman’s shelter)
- Women's and girls' counseling center for acute and past experiences of violence, conflicts, and crises
Netzwerk der brandenburgischen Frauenhäuser e. V.
- Association of women's shelters, women's emergency homes, and women's counseling centers in the federal state of Brandenburg, founded in March 1995
- Overview of all women's shelters in the federal state of Brandenburg and offers of help in cases of violence against women (also at the interface to violence against disabled/impaired women)
- Internet presence in easy and sign language
Weisser Ring e.V. - Hilfe für Kriminalitätsopfer: 116 006 (free of charge within Germany)
- Help and assistance, e.g. after rape (also in connection with knockout drops), domestic violence, stalking
- 7 days a week from 7:00 am – 10: 00 pm
- Throughout Germany, free of charge, and anonymous
- Internet presence barrier-free (in easy language) and bilingual (English)
Hotline Kinderschutz: (Child Protection Hotline) +49 030 61 00 66 (Berlin)
- Low threshold, available around the clock
- Counseling and support services and first point of contact for all citizens who are concerned about the welfare of children and young people (e.g. trainees at universities)
- Multilingual internet presence and counseling offers (Turkish, Russian, Arabic)
Nightline Potsdam: +49 0331 977 1834
- Listening service for students in Potsdam
- During semesters Thursday - Sunday, 9:00pm-12:00am (during semester breaks reference to other nightlines)

Information of the bukof Commission " Sexualized Discrimination and Violence at Universities”

Information for employees, employers, and works councils

"Dealing with sexualized discrimination, harassment and violence. Information, options for action and contact points at the University of Potsdam"