![[Translate to Englisch:]](/Bilder/_processed_/f/7/csm_AdobeStock_621658360_08403e25f1.jpeg)
Support in Cases of Discrimination, Harassment and Violence
Have you experienced discrimination, harassment or violence at the University of Applied Sciences Erfurt? We want to encourage you not to accept discriminatory behaviour.
In its mission statement, the University of Applied Sciences Erfurt commits to equal opportunities, equal participation, diversity and inclusion and promotes a work and study environment, where everyone is protected from discrimination. The University of Applied Sciences Erfurt takes consistent action against all forms of discrimination, harassment and violence and promotes a culture of awareness.
In line with the General Equal Treatment Act (German abbreviation: AGG), the University of Applied Sciences Erfurt has adopted an Anti-Discrimination Directive (German abbreviation: AGG-RL), that regulates how discrimination, harassment, and violence are addressed.
The University of Applied Sciences Erfurt has adopted its own Directive for the Prevention of and Protection against Sexualized Harassment, Discrimination and Violence (German abbreviation: SBDG-Schutz-RL) for addressing sexualized harassment, discrimination and violence.
Counselling - informal procedure
Those who experience or witness harassment, discrimination or violence often face many uncertainties. Where does harassment, discrimination and violence actually begin? What can I do if I am affected myself or have witnessed an incident?
We recommend seeking counselling from one of the designated officers or representative bodies. Here, you can:
- give space to your experiences, reflect on and process experiences.
- receive advice on protective measures and possible courses of action and develop a plan for how to proceed.
- receive support in submitting a formal complaint and, if desired, be accompanied throughout the process.
- establish contact with specialized counselling services.
Counselling in the informal procedure is confidential and can also be anonymous, if you wish. The contents of the conversation may only be disclosed to third parties with your express consent.
You can be accompanied to the counselling session by a person you trust.
Counselling at the University of Applied Sciences Erfurt
Further Points of Contact for Employees
Further Points of Contact for Students
The following services provide students with initial advice and referrals. They can refer students to the appropriate internal services and, if desired, accompany them throughout the process.
Complaint - formal procedure
Should you wish to submit a formal complaint, you can do so through the AGG Complaints Office. A formal procedure may also be initiated through the president, particularly in cases of sexualized harassment, discrimination and violence.
In the formal procedure, the facts of the case will be clarified and measures and/or sanctions will be initiated.
A prior counselling session with the Diversity Officer, the Equal Opportunities Officer, the Works Council or the Representative Council for the Severely Disabled is recommended.
-
You can submit your complaint to the AGG Complaints Office.
Please ensure that the following information is included in the complaint:
- a specific description of the incident and its consequences
- identification of any potential evidence or witnesses
- if applicable, information on other persons and services already involved
- if applicable, information on measures already taken
You may submit your complaint in writing by e-mail or alternatively make an appointment with the AGG Complaints Office and present your complaint verbally.
Complaints regarding incidents of sexualized harassment, discrimination and violence can also be submitted to the president in the presence of an in-house university lawyer.
-
The AGG Complaints Office reviews the complaint on behalf of the university together with an in-house university lawyer. For this purpose, it obtains a statement from the person against whom the complaint is directed, and, if necessary, statements from witnesses.
The AGG Complaints Office will then forward the result of the review to the University Executive Board. The University Executive Board initiates appropriate measures and/or sanctions.
The AGG Complaints Office will inform you of the outcome of the review and, if applicable, any measures that will be taken.
Should the formal procedure be initiated directly through the president, you will be informed of the outcome by the president.
FAQ - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROCEDURE
How the University of Applied Sciences Erfurt addresses discrimination, harassment and violence is regulated in the Anti-Discrimination Directive (German abbreviation: AGG-RL). The University of Applied Sciences Erfurt has adopted its own Directive for the Prevention of and Protection against Sexualized Harassment, Discrimination and Violence (German abbreviation: SBDG-Schutz-RL) for addressing sexualized harassment, discrimination and violence.
The following FAQs provide an overview of the principles and regulations at the University of Applied Sciences Erfurt.
-
The University of Applied Sciences Erfurt bases its two directives on the General Act on Equal Treatment (German abbreviation: AGG) and defines discrimination, harassment and violence as follows:
Discrimination
Discrimination is the unjustified unequal treatment of a person or group of people on the basis of one or more social characteristic or assigned attribute. In line with the AGG the University of Applied Sciences Erfurt has included the following characteristics and assigned attributes in the AGG-RL:
- gender and gender identity
- ethnic origin and nationality (racist, anti-Semitic or ethnicizing attributions)
- disability or chronic/prolonged illness
- sexual orientation
- religion or belief
- age
Discrimination can be direct or indirect. Direct discrimination occurs when one person is treated less favourably than another due to one or more social characteristic or assigned attribute. Indirect discrimination occurs when an apparently neutral provision, criterion or practice puts persons at a disadvantage compared with other persons due to one or more social characteristic or assigned attribute.
Harassment
Harassment is considered discrimination when unwelcome conduct related to social characteristics or assigned attributes violates the dignity of the person affected and creates an environment in which intimidation, hostility, humiliation, degradation and insults are the norm.
Violence
Violence is any physical act that uses physical force to overcome resistance, whether actual or anticipated. Violence may occur in the form of physical assaults or other non-verbal actions that trigger a physical stress or response in the person affected.
-
Any sexually influenced behaviour, that is generally considered undesirable and/or considered undesirable by persons affected, is considered as sexualized harassment, discrimination and violence by the University of Applied Sciences Erfurt in its SBDG-Schutz-RL. This includes both verbal and non-verbal behaviour. It also covers all criminal offences. Furthermore, it includes any unwelcome conduct, especially:
- physical contact and assault
- soliciting sexual contact
- demeaning and sexualized remarks, even if they are declared as 'jokes'
- comments about someone's body, sexual activity, sexual orientation or gender identity
- gestures or behaviour that have sexual implications
- sharing, displaying and disseminating pornographic and/or sexist texts, voice or text messages and/or images, regardless of the means of communication used
- exhibitionist behaviour
- surveillance, stalking and coercion
Sexualized harassment, discrimination and violence do not necessarily have to be sexual in origin, but they may represent an abuse of power. What matters is the perception of the person affected.
-
The AGG-RL and the SBDG-Schutz-RL protect the following status groups and groups of people:
- all members and affiliates of the University of Applied Sciences Erfurt
- external persons such as guests, scholarship holders, persons involved in recruitment and professorial appointment procedures
- third parties on the university campus if at least one person involved is a member or affiliate of the University of Applied Sciences Erfurt
The directives apply in the following contexts:
- on the entire premises of the University of Applied Sciences Erfurt including all of its campuses and off-site branches and any facilities rented by the University of Applied Sciences Erfurt
- in online meeting rooms and events (including: courses, work meetings)
- in digital learning spaces and all other digital communication tools provided by the University of Applied Sciences Erfurt (including: e-mail, video conferencing software, chat rooms)
- outside university premises, provided there is a connection to the University of Applied Sciences Erfurt in its role as an educational establishment or workplace
-
As a person affected by discrimination, harassment and violence, you have the right to receive counselling and to submit a complaint. The University of Applied Sciences Erfurt has developed a two-stage procedure for this purpose:
- Counselling (informal procedure)
Persons affected can receive confidential counselling on possible courses of action from one of the designated officers or representative bodies. - Complaint (formal procedure)
A complaint can be formally submitted through the AGG Complaints Office or the president. The formal procedure serves to clarify the facts of the case and to initiate measures and sanctions.
We recommend that you seek confidential counselling before submitting a complaint, so you can make an informed decision. However, a complaint can also be submitted without first going through an informal procedure.
- Counselling (informal procedure)
-
Which option you choose depends on various factors.
Principles of the informal procedure
- The counselling service acts in your interest. It supports you in asserting your concerns and, if desired, can also assist you in initiating a formal procedure.
- The informal procedure is confidential. The contents of the conversation may only be disclosed to third parties with your express consent.
- The informal procedure can also be conducted anonymously. For this purpose, you may also be represented by another person.
- Measures and sanctions can only be initiated once you have agreed to have the matter forwarded to the AGG Complaints Office or the University Executive Board.
Principles of the formal procedure
- The AGG Complaints Office acts impartially. It is responsible for objectively investigating the facts on behalf of the university.
- In the formal procedure, information about the incident is passed on to responsible offices and to the University Executive Board.
- The formal procedure cannot be conducted anonymously. In order to process your complaint and clarify the facts of the case, your name must be known to the AGG Complaints Office.
- If misconduct is confirmed in the formal procedure, the university is obliged to initiate measures and, if necessary, sanctions. The decision on measures and sanctions lies with the University Executive Board.
-
The University of Applied Sciences Erfurt has a special duty of care and protection towards persons affected by discrimination, harassment and violence. If a case of misconduct becomes known, the University of Applied Sciences Erfurt will immediately initiate measures. Regardless of a complaint procedure, temporary protective measures can be taken in individual cases.
During the informal procedure persons affected have an unrestricted right to anonymity. During the formal procedure, all persons involved in the procedures are obliged to maintain confidentiality, even after the procedures have been concluded. Your name may not be publicly disclosed. Your name may only be disclosed to the accused if the accused is legally entitled to know or if the matter can otherwise not be properly clarified.
Through individual solutions, the University of Applied Sciences Erfurt ensures that complaints do not result in any personal, academic or professional disadvantage for you.
-
Bullying occurs when an employee is systematically harassed, victimised or discriminated against by superiors or colleagues over a longer period of time with the aim or effect of excluding, degrading or violating the dignity of the person concerned.
Bullying constitutes a violation of labour law obligations and personal rights, regardless of whether a protected characteristic is involved. If there is a connection with a characteristic mentioned in the AGG, bullying can also constitute harassment within the meaning of the AGG. In this case, the special provisions of the AGG-RL apply additionally.
We recommend that you seek confidential counselling from one of the representative bodies or designated officers.
External Counselling Services
Here you will find an overview of regional and national counselling services that advise and support persons affected by discrimination, harassment and violence on different topics.