On October 29, at Mykolas Romeris University (MRU), the European Women Rectors Association (EWORA) seminar, titled "Universities as Change Agents to Create a Gender-Based Violence-Free Society" will bring together speakers from various academic communities to address one of the most pressing social issues: gender-based violence.

"Gender-based violence is both a cause and a consequence of gender inequality, and one of the biggest problems in society, the family, and the workplace or study environment. When discussing gender-based violence in universities, we focus on hierarchical organizational structures, power imbalances and dynamics, as well as organizational culture, values, and behavioral patterns," says Dr. Vilana Pilinkaitė-Sotirovič, a researcher at the Sociology Institute of the Lithuanian Centre for Social Sciences. She will share insights from the H2020 project "UniSAFE".

In the UniSAFE project, a consortium of nine EU countries analyzed the prevalence of gender-based violence in universities and research institutions and collected data on the forms, causes, and consequences of violence for individuals and higher education institutions themselves. According to Dr. Pilinkaitė-Sotirovič, the collected research data has helped in developing tools for university communities to effectively prevent and respond to any form of violence.

In the UniSAFE project’s representative survey, which took place in 15 countries and 46 universities, more than 42,000 respondents participated. Nearly two out of three respondents (62%) reported having experienced violent behavior at least once in a university environment, either during their studies or at work.

"Most respondents shared that they experienced psychological violence (57%) and sexual harassment (31%), less frequently physical and sexual assault, but every incident leaves traumatic experiences and negative consequences for the individual’s mental health and professional development," emphasizes the researcher.

The UniSAFE study revealed that very few cases of violence are reported to responsible individuals or committees dealing with such incidents. Only 12% of all respondents filed complaints or reported violent incidents in some way.

"Most often, no one comes forward because the incident is considered insignificant and no response is expected. Often, the violent behavior itself is not recognized due to a lack of vocabulary to describe it. Frequently, there is also fear of retaliation from the perpetrator, which could hinder professional career prospects, and so the incidents are kept silent."

What can universities do?

"UniSAFE research results reveal that it is not beneficial for universities to tolerate gender-based violence, which creates an unsafe study and work environment for the academic community. Currently, universities, in an effort to maintain high academic potential, are taking preventive measures to combat sexual harassment and discrimination based on gender or other identity grounds. However, this is not enough if the measures do not specifically involve the experiences of the victims and knowledge about the prevalence of different forms of gender-based violence, as well as effective measures to protect the victims and stop the perpetrators' unwanted behavior," says Dr. Pilinkaitė-Sotirovič.

UniSAFE has developed the 7P institutional policy model, where P stands for effective measures to shape policies, collect and analyze data on the prevalence of gender-based violence, develop research-based prevention, protection, and intervention measures, provide targeted services that meet specific needs, and strengthen partnerships with organizations or groups representing students, faculty, and staff within the academic community.

"This model proposes involving the entire university community in the implementation of gender-based violence policies and not leaving this responsibility solely to the leadership or gender equality coordinators. Of course, effective policy creation and cultural change within institutions require the leadership and support of university management. This unites the academic community in the collective effort to ensure a safe study and work environment," says Dr. Pilinkaitė-Sotirovič.

The EWORA seminar "Universities as Change Agents to Create a Gender-Based Violence-Free Society" will take place on October 29 at MRU.

Register for the seminar here.