It is imperative that we foster a culture of anti-discrimination. This will ensure that all forms of discrimination are acknowledged, that experiences of discrimination are openly discussed, that rules for respectful interaction are established and that proven misconduct is consistently and effectively sanctioned.
Sexual harassment is a form of discrimination and is explicitly addressed as such in the General Equal Treatment Act (AGG). The state of Baden-Württemberg has also adopted the provisions of the AGG for students at the state university.
It is inevitable that a significant number of cases of misconduct will go unreported in universities, which are institutions characterised by formal and informal hierarchies. It is therefore the primary goal of university management to shed light on this dark field (monitoring), encourage people to talk about their experiences of discrimination, and consistently penalize misconduct.
