UniSAFE presents pathways to end gender-based violence in academia and research
The UniSAFE project announces its final conference: From policy to practice - Pathways to end gender-based violence in academia and research. The event takes place 21-22 November 2023 at the University of Namur, Belgium, and will also be streamed online. The Swedish Secretariat for Gender Research, University of Gothenburg, presents some of the project’s findings.
Gender-based violence is widespread. It takes on multiple forms, has long-lasting and devastating consequences and occurs in every sphere and domain of life, in every organisation, and in offline and online settings. Not only do higher education institutions and research organisations see no exception to this, but they are particularly prone to high levels of gender-based violence.
As universities and research organisations are trying to tackle this issue, they often lack guidance on where to start or how to ensure that their policies and measures are comprehensive enough to be efficient. Other decision-makers are still not aware enough of the change to be initiated at the level of institutions and of public authorities.
For the past three years, the UniSAFE project has been investigating the prevalence of gender-based violence in academia and research, as well as institutions’ responses. Its widescale survey – taken by 42,000 staff and students from 46 organisations in 15 countries – has provided solid and comparable data, which has been analysed and compared with results from interviews, policy mapping and case studies of institutional responses. This knowledge has been translated into concrete tools and recommendations.
Practical recommendations tailored to various contexts
The conference in Belgium is looking from a holistic perspective – using the 7P framework (prevalence, prevention, protection, prosecution, provision of services, partnerships, policies). Beside results from the research it presents its applications for institutions, with practical recommendations tailored to various contexts: universities and research organisations, public authorities at EU and national levels.
“During one of the sessions we will present the project's learnings from collecting quantitative and qualitative data at both organisational and individual levels. The presentation will also include concrete recommendations on how to collect data related to gender-based violence with a survivor-centered perspective” says Fredrik Bondestam, Director of the Swedish Secretariat for Gender Research.
The presentation will be made together with Claudia Schredl, from GESIS – Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences and Vilana Pilinkaite, Lithuanian Centre for Social Sciences. The Swedish Secretariat for Gender Research is a part of the UniSAFE’s Swedish project team, led by Associate Professor Sofia Strid, the Department of Sociology and Work Science at University of Gothenburg.
Target group
The conference specifically addresses policymakers, decision-makers in university and research organisations, as well as gender equality officers, representatives from university networks and research funding organisations, but is open to all. The event will take place in person at the University of Namur in Belgium and will also be streamed online. Registration is free of charge but seats are limited.
Please click here for more information about the conference and to register
The Swedish Secretariat for Gender Research has been sharing knowledge for 25 years.