Gender-based violence and institutional responses: Building a knowledge base and operational tools to make universities and research organisations safe

Project Information

UniSAFE

Grant agreement ID: 101006261

DOI

10.3030/101006261

Project closed

EC signature date 28 October 2020

Start date 1 February 2021

End date 31 January 2024

Funded under

• SCIENCE WITH AND FOR SOCIETY

Total cost

€ 3 198 540,00

EU contribution

€ 3 198 540,00

Coordinated by

FONDATION EUROPEENNE DE LA SCIENCE
France

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - UniSAFE (Gender-based violence and institutional responses: Building a knowledge base and operational tools to make universities and research organisations safe)

Reporting period: 2022-08-01 to 2024-01-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

UniSAFE was an EC-funded project that studied gender-based violence and institutional responses with the goal of building a knowledge base and operational tools to make universities and research organisations safe.

The problem of gender-based violence is prevalent across Europe. It is a human rights violation, and both a cause and a consequence of gender inequalities. There are numerous reports on gender-based violence, including sexual harassment within European universities and research institutions. This violence has detrimental effects on personal wellbeing, as well as scientific studies, careers, and research output of its victims.

Gender-based violence also hinders research and educational performance at the institutional level. Several studies have shown that women in precarious working conditions (e.g. early career stage researchers, transnational researchers, and researchers with short-term affiliation) are at particular risk of experiencing gender-based violence, including sexual harassment.

Despite growing scholarly and policy interest in the issue, a full understanding of the scope, consequences and measures on gender-based violence and sexual harassment in European universities and research organisations is yet to be reached, while the problem frequently remains underestimated at the institutional, social and national levels.  

Project UniSAFE addressed the problem via two overall objectives, which were successfully reached. UniSAFE’s partners, together with a network of national researchers, investigated the prevalence and consequences of gender-based violence in universities and research organisations, as well as institutions’ responses and existing policy frameworks. The research relied on a comprehensive theoretical model and examined the mechanisms and prevalence of gender-based violence, its determinants, antecedents and consequences, by a multilevel research design to collect, analyse, and synthesise qualitative and quantitative data on micro (individual), meso (organisational) and macro (national) levels. The research thus produced new, robust and reliable knowledge on gender-based violence. The research was translated into concrete tools and recommendations not only for universities and research organisations, but also for funding organisations, staff and student associations, policymakers, and umbrella organisations addressing gender-based violence.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The project research work began with the state-of-the-art theoretical and conceptual framework on gender-based violence, including literature reviews and mapping of exisiting prevalence studies. It proceeded with the analysis of the legal and policy frameworks. This was done via extensive mapping by a network of experts in 33 EU Member States, Associated and Third Countries. The prevalence and impacts of gender-based violence were analysed via a survey implemented in 46 research performing organisations (universities and other higher education institutes, research institutions) in 15 European countries, and via a Europe-wide survey of internationally mobile early-stage career scholars on temporary contracts. The selection was made to allow for variety of contexts and diversity in size, location, and policy approaches to gender-based violence in the research performing organisations. Institutional responses and measures were analysed via 16 case studies and a strategic mapping of the participating organisations covering all 15 countries under study. In addition, 54 in-depth interviews were conducted to gather and analyse evidence on individual experiences, including victims and bystanders, of gender-based violence and institutional responses to it. All of the evidence and datasets from the project were triangulated and synthesised to provide an understanding of the mechanisms of gender-based violence on micro, meso and macro levels in research organisations, and the diverse ways in which gender-based violence is framed in policy and legislation provided, and the extent to which measures work (or not) in combating gender-based violence using a mixed-method, multi-level analysis – taking intersectionality into account.  

Throughout the very productive and widely disseminated research stage, an ambitious and holistic 7P model, covering prevalence, prevention, protection, prosecution, provision of services, partnerships and policy, was used to collect and analyse data on each level. The same 7P model was used to co-design a comprehensive set of measures and tools to be applied inside universities and research organisations, as well as by other stakeholders, including policymakers and research financing organisations. Concrete recommendation and tools, a user-friendly UniSAFE toolkit for further development of holistic policy responses, and several trainings for capacity-building resulted in the inclusion of a wider community of universities and research organisations via capacity-building programmes, user involvement in tool development, and advocacy actions in the project, which facilitates the transfer of knowledge and implementation of policies for lasting impact.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The project work and the results achieved contribute to pushing further the boundaries of knowledge on gender-based violence in research environments. Theoretically, it advanced understanding of gender-based violence as a continuum, as intersectional, and made visible new forms of emerging violence and violations. The UniSAFE survey, the largest of its kind, and the qualitative data gathering have produced robust results, and the substantial work of analysis has already resulted in publications and operational tools with high impact potential. These results, together with the solid and comparable data made available for further analysis and study, contributed directly to a better understanding of gender-based violence in European universities and research organisations.  

As the project continued to translate this knowledge into tailored, fit-for-purpose tools and measures primarily for the research performing organisations taking part in the project, the implementation of those measures could be begun promptly. This has immediately increased the capacity of staff and students to address gender-based violence, while providing the organisations with effective policies and measures for combatting gender-based violence.

The comprehensive set of tools and measures created within the project can be implemented at a wide level in research performing organisations, leading to changes with high socio-economic impact with wide societal implications. The most important of which being the reduction of gender-based violence in academic environments and research workplaces in Europe. The project's recommendations, tools, and research remain available to be taken up in further research and policymaking for continued impact.

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