Policy support to facilitate the implementation of a zero-tolerance approach towards gender-based violence in the ERA

Gender-based violence (GBV), including sexual harassment, sexual assault and psychological violence, occurs at all career levels of higher education and research and in all disciplines. It has destructive consequences for individuals, disrupts careers, damages institutions, and affects the quality of research and education itself. Nevertheless, very few countries have comprehensive policies in place to address the issue, as relatively little public policy attention has been given to GBV in universities and research institutions in the EU.[[ERAC 1205/1/20 REV 1: Sexual Harassment in the Research and Higher Education Sector: National Policies and Measures in EU Member States and Associated Countries]] With the institutional change approach through gender equality plans, measures to address GBV (e.g. through a code of conduct or a protocol for complaints), are ex