Periodic Reporting for period 1 - GenderSAFE (Advancing the zero-tolerance approach to gender-based violence in higher education and research in the European Research Area)
Período documentado: 2024-03-01 hasta 2025-08-31
The H2020 UniSAFE project provided strong evidence of the prevalence of gender-based violence across European higher education and research institutions and countries. Nearly 62% of the 42,000 respondents of the project’s survey disclosed having experienced at least one form of gender-based violence in their place of work or study. However, only 7% of students and 23% of staff reported such incidents experienced in their institution, mainly because they did not consider the behaviour serious enough to report, did not recognise the behaviour as violence at the time of the incident or did not think that anything would happen if they reported it.
In recent years, policy attention to gender-based violence in higher education and research has grown, responding to this prevalence, both at the EU level and at the level of responsible national authorities. Despite advances in policy adoption, institutions are however failing in implementation, very little is in place to monitor and evaluate existing policies, and there is a lack of understanding of what constitutes gender-based violence and how to proceed when something happens.
The EU-funded GenderSAFE project supports research and higher education institutions in establishing safe, inclusive and respectful environments by setting up comprehensive policies to effectively counteract gender-based violence. Building on the Zero Tolerance Code of Conduct which outlines the key elements of a zero-tolerance framework for combating gender-based violence, GenderSAFE advances this approach within the European Research Area. By fostering institutional cultures that uphold gender equality and unequivocally reject all forms of gender-based violence, GenderSAFE addresses the full spectrum of unacceptable behaviours, ranging from subtle, less visible instances to explicit acts of violence. For decision-makers, this framework offers practical tools to enforce compliance, foster trust, and encourage a culture where victim-survivors feel supported to come forward.
In recent years, policy attention to gender-based violence in higher education and research has grown, responding to this prevalence, both at the EU level and at the level of responsible national authorities. Despite advances in policy adoption, institutions are however failing in implementation, very little is in place to monitor and evaluate existing policies, and there is a lack of understanding of what constitutes gender-based violence and how to proceed when something happens.
The EU-funded GenderSAFE project supports research and higher education institutions in establishing safe, inclusive and respectful environments by setting up comprehensive policies to effectively counteract gender-based violence. Building on the Zero Tolerance Code of Conduct which outlines the key elements of a zero-tolerance framework for combating gender-based violence, GenderSAFE advances this approach within the European Research Area. By fostering institutional cultures that uphold gender equality and unequivocally reject all forms of gender-based violence, GenderSAFE addresses the full spectrum of unacceptable behaviours, ranging from subtle, less visible instances to explicit acts of violence. For decision-makers, this framework offers practical tools to enforce compliance, foster trust, and encourage a culture where victim-survivors feel supported to come forward.
GenderSAFE set ambitious targets for its activities:
- Review of current scholarly debates on the zero-tolerance approach and identifications of key elements critical for developing a conceptual framework;
- Identification of the needs of specific groups of researchers from an intersectional perspective related to situations of GBV especially in terms of prevention, protection and provision of services;
- Operationalising key components of a zero-tolerance approach from a gender+ intersectional perspective, reflecting the needs of the specific groups.
The results of these activities are publicly available deliverables (D2.1 and D2.2)
- Engagement of stakeholders through Communities of Practice (CoP) to ensure zero-tolerance policy ownership and implementation, fostering mutual learning and creating an inspiring and supportive peer-network:
At the end of the first reporting, the CoP has 141 members.
- Enhance institutional capacity to develop and implement comprehensive policies by training staff and establishing a skilled pool of trainers across the EU, thereby raising awareness and standards alike;
Train-the-trainer programme has 25 participants, with training sessions that have reached over 570 participants at the project’s mid-point.
- Establish a robust data collection and monitoring system to inform and assess policy implementation and uptake, at institutional and national/regional levels:
Model Policy Framework (MPF) for institutions, providing a comprehensive and adaptable structure for zero-tolerance GBV policies and aligned with European values and legal obligations. Complementing this, the project is developing an institutional policy monitoring framework that enables research performing organisations to assess their progress in adopting and implementing anti-GBV policies. Together, these tools offer a scalable and coherent approach to institutional transformation across diverse national contexts.
- Review of current scholarly debates on the zero-tolerance approach and identifications of key elements critical for developing a conceptual framework;
- Identification of the needs of specific groups of researchers from an intersectional perspective related to situations of GBV especially in terms of prevention, protection and provision of services;
- Operationalising key components of a zero-tolerance approach from a gender+ intersectional perspective, reflecting the needs of the specific groups.
The results of these activities are publicly available deliverables (D2.1 and D2.2)
- Engagement of stakeholders through Communities of Practice (CoP) to ensure zero-tolerance policy ownership and implementation, fostering mutual learning and creating an inspiring and supportive peer-network:
At the end of the first reporting, the CoP has 141 members.
- Enhance institutional capacity to develop and implement comprehensive policies by training staff and establishing a skilled pool of trainers across the EU, thereby raising awareness and standards alike;
Train-the-trainer programme has 25 participants, with training sessions that have reached over 570 participants at the project’s mid-point.
- Establish a robust data collection and monitoring system to inform and assess policy implementation and uptake, at institutional and national/regional levels:
Model Policy Framework (MPF) for institutions, providing a comprehensive and adaptable structure for zero-tolerance GBV policies and aligned with European values and legal obligations. Complementing this, the project is developing an institutional policy monitoring framework that enables research performing organisations to assess their progress in adopting and implementing anti-GBV policies. Together, these tools offer a scalable and coherent approach to institutional transformation across diverse national contexts.
GenderSAFE has created new conceptual knowledge on GBV and specifically zero-tolerance to GBV, thus enabling further scientific advances across disciplines and sectors. Its results help identify needs of specific at-risk groups, provide new understanding on the adoption and implementation of GBV policies, and set-up a comprehensive monitoring mechanism at the institutional level.
The work done towards the Code of Conduct and the subsequent adoption of policies integrating and implementing its principles are expected to reduce the brain drain from academia, as fewer women and other people suffering from discrimination, harassment or different forms of violence will decide to leave the academic sector.
GenderSAFE contributions to better R&I governance and policies have impact potential to render R&I a more equitable sector, which in turn will make it more attractive as an employer. Enhancing equal opportunities for researchers regarding career prospects through the creation of a safe environment has long-lasting societal impact through better working environments, research, and innovation alike.
The work done towards the Code of Conduct and the subsequent adoption of policies integrating and implementing its principles are expected to reduce the brain drain from academia, as fewer women and other people suffering from discrimination, harassment or different forms of violence will decide to leave the academic sector.
GenderSAFE contributions to better R&I governance and policies have impact potential to render R&I a more equitable sector, which in turn will make it more attractive as an employer. Enhancing equal opportunities for researchers regarding career prospects through the creation of a safe environment has long-lasting societal impact through better working environments, research, and innovation alike.