Women and especially women in precarious working conditions are at greater risk of experiencing sexual harassment and gender-based violence during their research career. Moreover, compounding factors, such as mobility, precarious contracts, unequal relationships of power, increase the probability of sexual violence and harrasment and make PhD candidates and postdocs high-risk categories. LGBTI people can also experience harassment and discrimination in higher education.

Through this conference we will share and examine specific measures in order to bring about best practices to tackle gender-based violence, especially at an
early career stage. An important part of sexual violence policies consider preventive actions that aim at raising-awareness on the legal framework surrounding sexual violence but also at challenging gender stereotypes and “rape culture” in academia (Buchwald et al. 1993). The aim of the conference is to contribute to changing institutional culture in order to establish universities as safe places.

Drawing on such good practices, the COST ACTION CA20137 Making Young Researchers’ Voices Heard for Gender Equality (VOICES) is tasked with increasing the visibility of inequalities faced by young researchers, with emphasis on a gender perspective; and promoting a sustainable dialogue between young researchers and stakeholders in the research ecosystem at the systemic level (European & national policymakers) and at the institutional level  by creating a community of gender equality practitioners composed of various stakeholders across Europe. 

The conference is organised by the Working Group 4, “Sexual Harassment, Gender-Based Violence and Institutional Culture,” of the VOICES Action.

Check the Conference website here: Making Young Researchers’ Voices Heard to Prevent Gender Based Violance in Higher Education – Sciencesconf.org

Following the Conference there will be Management Committee and Working Groups meetings taking place in Tirana and online.