Preventing sexual harassment requires knowledge and awareness: explore new viewpoints.

Sexual harassment and sexism are social problems that are also a reality within the walls of Swiss universities and research institutes. Indeed, an increasing number of risk factors exist within a university environment that can increase the likelihood of inappropriate behaviour. These include precarious employment conditions, dependency relationships, hierarchical structures and, in some areas, a lack of diversity at management level.

Numerous studies and campaigns have shown that sexual harassment occurs in every higher education discipline and is experienced and perpetrated by all groups – students, lecturers, doctoral students, professors, supervisors and other employees. 

Swiss universities and research institutions are committed to providing a respectful environment  in which everyone within the sector can study and work safely. This is why swissuniversities has introduced the Sexual Harassment Awareness Day within the framework of the project "P-7: Diversity, Inclusion and Equality in Higher Education Institutions". The first of these was held throughout Switzerland on 23 March 2023. The next Sexual Harassment Awareness Day will take place on 25 April 2024. Their aim is to identify the causes, forms and consequences of sexual harassment. Because preventing sexual harassment requires knowledge and awareness.

The campaign and programme of events were developed in cooperation with the following partner institutions:

• Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich

• Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research

• University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland

• Bern University of Teacher Education

• University of Bern

• University of Friburg

• University of Geneva    

• University of Lucerne (leading house)

• University of Neuchâtel

• University of St. Gallen

• University of Zurich

Contact:
Pia Ammann
Simona Materni
info@universities-against-harassment.ch