Campaign "Protection against sexualized discrimination and violence" launched

The university wants to address and act on sexualized violence in the university context. This is because sexualized discrimination and violence continue to be a social problem from which universities as places of study and work are not exempt. Sexualized discrimination and violence can constitute criminal offenses, are attacks on the dignity and personal rights of those affected, and will not be tolerated at the University of Kassel. With the campaign, the university management would like to work towards making it possible to talk about sexualized discrimination and violence, to sensitize everyone to the topic, to carry out prevention and educational work and to offer help in the event of assaults. The University of Kassel attaches great importance to respectful and appreciative cooperation, it carries out preventive work and offers information on contact points, advice and help at www.uni-kassel.de/go/schutz_sexualisierte_diskriminierung.

Prof. Dr. Ute Clement, President of the University of Kassel, explains the idea behind the campaign: "Even students and employees at universities are not immune to sexualized assaults. We don't tolerate such things at our university and support the campaign with its counseling and help offers."

"A recent European study of universities shows that two out of three respondents have experienced gender-based violence and of those, only 13 percent report the experience of violence. The campaign should contribute to the fact that border crossings are taken seriously by all, that experiences are reported and can be acted professionally ", stresses the equal opportunity commissioner Dr. Sylke Ernst.

Prof. Dr. René Matzdorf, Vice President for Studies and Teaching at the University of Kassel, emphasizes: "It is no secret that women at universities are affected to a greater extent than men by sexual violence and stalking, but also by insults and discrimination. We ask all those affected to seek help in case of a case and to turn to the counseling centers

Prof. Dr. Sonja Buckel, Vice President for Equality and Diversity at the University of Kassel, draws attention to discrimination on the Internet: "Hate comments, cyberbullying, shitstorms, personal threats - all this is a sad reality. As a university that lives up to its responsibility, we are committed to ensuring that the framework conditions in the so-called social media are designed in such a way that all genders can express themselves without fear of reprisals."

During the campaign until March 8, 2023, International Women's Day, various events, actions and awareness-raising workshops will take place. Informational materials in the form of stickers, posters and door hangers will be distributed university-wide, and there will be informational booths outside dining halls. For an overview of the campaign, visit www.uni-kassel.de/go/kampagne_gegen_sexualisierte_Gewalt

Contact:
Dr. Sylke Ernst
Equal Opportunity Office
Tel: 0561 804-2268
Mail: gleichstellung[at]uni-kassel[dot]de