Sexual Harassment Prevention at EHL

    EHL considers harassment a severe violation, and we take our responsibility to ensure a safe study and work environment seriously. We are all part of the EHL community. This means that we treat each other with respect. 

    We launched the Sexual Harassment Prevention (SHP) Initiative in 2019. Its purpose is to educate, protect, and empower students and staff on sexual harassment. SHP is spearheaded by the Women in Leadership Initiative and Academic Advisory Services (former Student Affairs).

    Are you a victim, or witness of, sexual harassment? 

    SHP video

    Our Goals & Commitments

    • Raise awareness of sexual harassment among the EHL community
    • Develop the ability of students and staff members to identify and take measures against sexual harassment
    • Accompany victims of sexual harassment to manage the situation and reduce negative outcomes
    • Create contact points and a clear standardized procedure to report sexual harassment
    • Establish a clear and consistent policy on sexual harassment at the institutional level.
    Non-violence

    EHL & NVPF: Combating Sexual Harassment

    The Non-Violence Project Foundation (NVPF) collaborates with EHL to prevent sexual harassment. Since 2019, we have trained over 2600 students.

    Additionally, 500 staff members have received mandatory training. Our "Standing Together" program offers comprehensive workshops to empower participants and promote a supportive environment. This initiative has received 95% positive feedback, highlighting the quality and impact of our training.

    What is Sexual Harassment?

    Sexual harassment refers to all comments or actions of a sexual nature or other behavior related to a person's gender that are unwanted by the person to whom they are directed, and which adversely affect their well-being. Sexual harassment is a form of discrimination (defined in Article 4 of the Swiss Federal Act on Gender Equality).

    The perception of the person harassed is the deciding factor, not the intention of the person committing the harassment. Sexual harassment can be perpetrated through words, images, gestures or actions. As such, even if an individual is neither aware nor deliberately attempting to inconvenience another person through their inappropriate sexual language or attitudes, sexual harassment may still occur.

    Sexual harassment can occur independently of hierarchical relationships: it may come from an immediate superior, subordinates, work colleagues, students, or any other person with whom an individual may be required to work or collaborate.

    Sexual harassment has serious detrimental consequences. Sexual harassment affects the psychological and physical integrity and health of those affected.

    Sexual Harassment: Categories of Conduct

    • Telling sexual jokes or stories that were offensive to you
    • Making crude sexual remarks to you publicly (in public space) or privately
    • Displaying materials (e.g., pictures, stories of you or others) wich you found offensive
    • Making unwelcome attempts to draw you into a discussion of sexual matters (e.g your sex life)
    • Staring at you in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable
    • Continuing to ask for dates, drinks, dinner, etc., despite your rejection or efforts to discourage
    • trying to establish a sexual relationship with you despite your rejection or efforts to discourage
    • Touching you in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable
    • Attempting to touch you or kiss you without your consent or against your will
    • Subtly bribing you with some sort of reward or special treatment to engage in sexual behavior
    • Implying that you will be treated better if you are sexually cooperative
    • Making you afraid of poor treatment if you didn't cooperate sexually
    • Treating you badly or experiencing negative consequences for refusing to have sex
    • Having sex with you without your consent or against your will
    Woman with her hand extended signaling to stop (only her hand is in focus)

    Resources for Students

    You will find a host of resources on the dedicated sexual harassment prevention section of MyEHL (Intranet)

    Sexual Harassment in the Workplace

    Legal Basis

    A number of laws, such as the Gender Equality Act (GEA), the Employment Act (EmpA), the Code of Obligations (CO) and the Swiss Criminal Code (SCC), govern the protection of employees against sexual harassment in the workplace, either specifically or as part of general protection of mental and physical well-being.

    Article 5 Gender Equality Act (GEA): “Discrimination via sexual harassment. Any harassing behaviour of a sexual nature or other behaviour related to the person’s gender that adversely affects the dignity of women or men in the workplace is discriminatory. Such behaviour includes in particular threats, the promise of advantages, the use of coercion and the exertion of pressure in order to obtain favours of a sexual nature.”
    Article 6 paragraph 1 Employment Act (EmpA): “Employers are obliged to take all the measures required to protect the health of their employees that experience has shown to be necessary, that may be used in accordance with the state of the art and which are appropriate to the conditions in the workplace. They must also take all the measures required to protect the personal integrity of their employees.”
    Article 328 paragraph 1 Code of Obligations (CO): “Employers(…) must in particular ensure that employees are not sexually harassed and that any victim of sexual harassment suffers no further adverse consequences.”
    Article 198 Swiss Criminal Code (SCC): “Any person who causes offence by performing a sexual act in the presence of another who does not expect it, any person who sexually harasses another physically or through the use of indecent language shall on complaint be liable to a fine.”

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