Gender-based violence is a persistent problem in higher education and research institutions across the European Research Area, with severe consequences at the individual, institutional and societal levels. The UniSAFE project has provided strong evidence of its prevalence and consequences across European higher education and research institutions and countries. Nearly 62% of the 42,000 respondents of the project’s survey disclosed having experienced at least one form of gender-based violence in their place of work or study (Lipinsky et al. 2022a; Humbert et al. 2022). However, only 7% of students and 23% of staff reported such incidents in their institution, mainly because they did not consider the behaviour serious enough to report, did not recognise the behaviour as violence at the time of the incident or lacked trust in the institutions’ ability to handle cases of gender-based violence (Lipinsky et al. 2022b).

Despite advances in policy adoption, institutions are failing in implementation, very little is in place to monitor and evaluate existing policies, and there is a lack of understanding of what constitutes gender-based violence and how to proceed when something happens (UniSAFE Policy Brief 2).

The EU-funded GenderSAFE project promotes zero tolerance to gender-based violence in the European Research Area and supports research and higher education institutions in establishing safe, inclusive and respectful environments by setting up comprehensive policies. It builds on the results and tools developed in UniSAFE.

The project aims to strengthen zero-tolerance policies, support higher education and research institutions in improving and implementing existing policies, build institutional capacities, monitor policies at national and institutional levels, raise awareness and conduct advocacy to advance zero-tolerance policies to gender-based violence.

The European Commission has published a Zero-tolerance code of conduct (2024). It aims to address gender-based violence in research and higher education environments by setting out a common approach, definitions, and a list of principles to guide all stakeholders and individuals in the ERA, to create a European research and innovation environment free from all forms of gender-based violence, based on the values of gender equality and inclusiveness, respect, dignity and safety.

This code of conduct is intended for all members of the research and innovation system across Europe, including researchers and administrators, employers, funders, and policy-makers, in all sectors and disciplines. It consists of 20 principles organised around three pillars, Commitment, Action and Accountability.

Find out more about the zero-tolerance approach and pledge for a European Research and Innovation environment free from all forms of gender-based violence, based on gender equality and inclusiveness, respect, dignity and safety!

https://gendersafe.eu/the-gendersafe-pledge-for-zero-tolerance-to-gender-based-violence/

 

Authors: The GenderSAFE consortium