Sexual harassment

Prevention and awareness policies at the University

Definitions

SEXUAL HARASSMENT

[...] any form of unwanted verbal, non-verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature, with the purpose or effect of violating the dignity of a person, in particular when such conduct creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment, whether such conduct is subject to criminal or other legal sanctions (Istanbul Convention – Article 40 – Council of Europe, 2011) 

GENDER DISCRIMINATION

Any behaviour based on a person's sex aimed at violating their dignity and creating an intimidating, degrading or offensive environment. 

SEXUAL VIOLENCE

Any sexual act perpetrated against a victim without consent. Sexual violence may include sexual harassment, sexting and sexual assault, including rape (for example, marital rape or date rape), committed by intimate partners or others. 

ONLINE HARASSMENT

Harassment through e-mail, text (or online) messages or the internet. It can include: unsolicited sexually explicit e-mails or messages; inappropriate or offensive advances on social networking sites or in chat rooms; threats of physical and/or sexual violence via e-mail or messages; hate speech that denigrates, insults or threatens a person based on their identity (gender) or other characteristics (such as sexual orientation or disability).  

Who can I contact in case of harassment?

🎯 Mission

The Service mainly deals with psychological assessment, support and psychotherapy, with the aim of promoting personal well-being and improving quality of life. In addition, the USD Clinical Psychology of BT works in synergy with the obstetric-gynecological, general and pediatric Emergency Department to provide psychological reception and assistance to victims of gender-based violence.

👥 Target audience

The Service is available to the entire UNIVR community (victims, witnesses/bystanders, and perpetrators).

⚠️ IMPORTANT: The service does NOT handle emergency situations or situations assessed as violent. In such cases, please contact the competent services (general emergency room, gynecological emergency room, law enforcement).

Some specifics:

  • Harassment situations* → USD Clinical Psychology BR (Counselling desk – Dr. A.P. Montagnoli)
  • Violence situations → Emergency room + USD Clinical Psychology BT + UOC Psychiatry + UOC Forensic Medicine

* only for situations occurring in the University context

📩 Access procedures

Send the email to:

After sending the email:

  • The professional will contact you by email/phone
  • They will introduce themselves and confirm receipt of the request
  • They will schedule a first interview/consultation (free of charge)
  • You will be able to choose between an online or in-person meeting
⏱️ Response time: max 10 working days

🎯 Mission

The service is mainly responsible for protecting and promoting the mental health of the population through integrated interventions in prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation. It operates with a multidisciplinary approach and close cooperation between hospital and community areas, ensuring continuity of care, personalized interventions, and psychological well-being support throughout all stages of life.

👥 Target audience

The Service is available to the entire UNIVR community (victims, witnesses/bystanders, and perpetrators).

⚠️ IMPORTANT: The service does NOT handle emergency situations or situations assessed as violent. In such cases, please contact the competent services (general emergency room, gynecological emergency room, law enforcement).

Some specifics:

  • Harassment situations* → USD Clinical Psychology BR (Counselling desk – Dr. A.P. Montagnoli)
  • Violence situations → Emergency room + USD Clinical Psychology BT + UOC Psychiatry + UOC Forensic Medicine

* only for situations occurring in the University context

📩 Access procedures

Access procedures are identical to those of the USD Clinical Psychology service (see above).

🎯 Mission

The Occupational Health Physician is responsible for all activities related to the protection of health and safety at work. In addition, they carry out several actions to promote organizational improvements in preventing harassment and violence. They can collect reports, identify signs of work-related distress, and offer support and counselling to victims of workplace harassment.

👥 Target audience

The Service is available to the entire UNIVR community (victims, witnesses/bystanders, and perpetrators).

⚠️ IMPORTANT: The service does NOT handle emergency situations or situations assessed as violent. In such cases, please contact the competent services (general emergency room, gynecological emergency room, law enforcement).

Some specifics:

  • Harassment situations* → UNIVR Occupational Health Physician Service
  • Violence situations → Emergency room + other care facilities

* only for situations occurring in the University context

📩 Access procedures

After sending the email:

  • The professional will contact you by email/phone
  • They will introduce themselves and confirm receipt of the request
  • They will schedule a first interview/consultation (free of charge)
  • You will be able to choose between an online or in-person meeting
⏱️ Response time: max 10 working days

🎯 Mission

The Confidential Counsellor is an independent, impartial third party tasked with receiving and managing reports of discrimination and harassment within the University. Their mission is to ensure compliance with the Ethical Code and the Code for the prevention of harassment, offering listening, assistance, and support to those who report or experience such situations. They also provide guidance to management and HR officers to promote effective prevention and protection policies and practices.

👥 Target audience

The Service is available to the entire UNIVR community.

📩 Access procedures

Access to the counsellor takes place via a request sent to the dedicated email address:

⏱️ Response time: within 1 week from the request

🎯 Mission

The Joint Committee for Equal Opportunities mainly works to promote equal opportunities, well-being, and respect for the dignity of all University members, preventing and countering any form of discrimination, violence, or mobbing, and fostering an organizational culture based on equity, inclusion, and the appreciation of differences.

👥 Target audience

The Service is available to the entire UNIVR community.

📩 Access procedures

According to the Regulation on mobbing and sexual harassment, reporting procedures are defined as follows:

  • Informal procedure: The reporter may directly contact the Confidential Counsellor
  • Formal procedure: Submit a written report to the Rector or the General Directorate
⏱️ Response time: within 1 week from the request

The Uni4equity glossary

The glossary on harassment prepared by the European network Uni4Equity.

The Uni4Equity (WP3) project glossary gathers more than 80 key terms related to gender, sexuality, identity, and structures of power and discrimination.

The text provides clear and harmonized definitions that help promote a common and inclusive language.

The document is produced by the European network of universities and research centers Uni4Equity, adopting a transnational and interdisciplinary approach.
Structured as an Italian–English bilingual glossary, it serves as an awareness-raising and educational tool designed to support equity-oriented policies and practices.

Glossary
The Uni4equity glossary
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Faq

1. What is sexual harassment?
2. How can I know if what I experienced was sexual harassment?
4. Can I report incidents of harassment that occurred online?
5. Can I report an incident that occurred outside the university campus?
6. Can I receive psychological support if I have been a victim of sexual harassment?
7. For those reflecting on their own behavior – how can I know if I am crossing a line?
8. How can I help someone who has experienced sexual harassment?