The first report, ‘Report on Zero-Tolerance Approaches to Gender-Based Violence in Higher Education and Research’ (Bondestam, Fikejzová, Linková and Strid, 2024), provides a brief background and description of the current academic debates on zero tolerance, followed by a critical analysis of how higher education institutions (HEIs) in Europe are addressing gender-based violence with this approach.
The project studied the implementation of policies in HEIs in Sweden and Ireland. Two-thirds of Swedish and half of Irish HEIs used the concept of zero tolerance in their policies, but only one HEI had clear definitions and a comprehensive framework to guide the policy.
The findings of the report show that the ambiguity of zero tolerance policies is seen as a major challenge. There is a need to move beyond rhetoric and ensure clear definitions and practical frameworks in these policies if they are to act as tools for real change.
The authors call for immediate action to address the shortcomings and to follow the report's recommendations, which will bring higher education institutions closer to the goal of creating safe and equitable higher education environments for all.
Current Policies Work Poorly for At-risk Groups
The second report, ‘Needs Assessment Report Addressing Intersectionality, Precarity and Mobility’, by Michlová, Oliva and Fikejzová (2024), with contributions from Sarah Philipson Isaac, Anne Laure Humbert and Sofia Strid at the University of Gothenburg, presents the results of a needs assessment focusing on gender-based violence among at-risk groups. The report is based on the experiences of victims and the institutions' responses to their stories of gender-based violence.
Overall, the results show that institutions tend to fail when cases of gender-based violence affect at-risk groups. Policies, communication and training materials fail to incorporate an intersectional perspective, that is, a perspective that can capture multiple interacting power imbalances and inequalities. Those affected testify to feeling distrusted and betrayed by their institutions, in addition to the direct experience of various forms of gender-based violence.
Both research reports are freely available on Zenodo:
- Report on Zero-Tolerance Approaches to Gender-Based Violence in Higher Education and Research
- Needs Assessment Report Addressing Intersectionality, Precarity and Mobility
Read more about the research project GenderSAFE.
