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

Sexual harassment has many causes, comes in many forms and has many consequences. Learn more about the issue. Expand your knowledge in our Content Hub. This page also contains a wide selection of campaign materials for you to share with your network.

First Sexual Harassment Awareness Day

Learn about the Swiss universities' and research institutions' campaign against sexual harassment.

We would like to see more willingness to act on the part of the leadership.

On 23 March, the causes, behaviors, and consequences of sexual harassment will be the topic of discussion. For this occasion, a wide range of committed individuals and groups will have their say. Speakers such as Seraphine Zang and Valentina Gasser.

22. March 2023

As a university collective against sexualised violence

On 23 March, the causes, forms and consequences of sexual harassment will be the subject of discussion. On this occasion, a wide range of committed people will have their say, such as the Dulifera collective.

13. March 2023

Discussion Biscuits

Aner Voloder is a lawyer and project manager of the Gender Equality Office of the City of Zurich as well as a member of the counselling team belaestigt.ch. He kindly agreed to comment on the statements that were baked into discussion biscuits.

27. February 2023

Prof. Dr. Anna Coninx talks about sexual harassment

More awareness is needed in the university environment, because sexual harassment also exists here. Prof. Dr. Anna Coninx explains why we need to look closely at universities in particular and why the awareness day on March 23 is just the beginning.

6. March 2023

Dr. Tabea Hässler talks about sexual harassment

Dr. Tabea Hässler, co-founder of the Swiss LGBTIQ+ Panel, talks about why more research on harassment and discrimination experiences of minorities is absolutely needed and why it pays off for universities to protect vulnerable groups.

27. February 2023

Dr. Rosalba Morese talks about sexual harassment

Psychologist and neuroscientist Dr. Rosalba Morese talks about how victims of sexual harassment feel and why it is so important for their mental health to talk to someone about their experience.

23. February 2023

First Sexual Harassment Awareness Day

Learn about the Swiss universities' and research institutions' campaign against sexual harassment.

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

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A wide variety of campaign materials to download and share

Your involvement matters; every voice counts. Download the main campaign documents here. Feel free to use them privately or at your university.

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