Sexual harassment
Sexual harassment is a violation of the values of ETH Zurich and is not tolerated. Everyone at ETH Zurich is entitled to have their personal boundaries respected and protected.
Contact for individuals affected and individuals seeking advice
Please report any sexual harassment you experience. We are here to advice on questions such as: What should I do next? Where can I get support? What is a possible course of action? What should I consider?
The Respect Office treats all matters confidentially. You will remain anonymous to any individuals involved or accused. Even if you are the subject of an accusation, you can access the counselling services.
The external page Psychological Counseling Services (Universität Zürich / ETH Zürich) are available to provide you with psychological support.
Alternatively, you can seek confidential advice from the following contact and advice services:
Ombudspersons (external)
chevron_right ContactCounselling & Coaching Centre (StS)
chevron_right ContactAre you being harassed at work? You have the right to defend yourself. Here are some actions you can take:
- Respond promptly and set boundaries.
Clarify the situation as quickly as possible. Make it clear to the individual in question how you feel about a particular action or statement, and demand that this behaviour stops. - Document the incidents.
Record what happened, when it occurred, who was present, and the surrounding circumstances. - Seek support.
If the situation does not improve, contact one of the official ETH contact and advice services for confidential counselling on possible further steps. They also provide information on possible legal steps. Any contact is strictly confidential. Measures are in place to ensure that you will not suffer any negative consequences as a result.
ETH Zurich is committed to a culture of looking out for each other. All members are encouraged to actively oppose harassing behaviour. Here are some actions you can take if you observe discriminatory behaviour:
- Ask questions and offer support.
Seek out the individual concerned and address the issue explicitly. Ask whether they actually feel harassed. If so, encourage them to contact one of the official contact and advice services.
You can also seek advice from one of the services yourself. All conversations are completely confidential. - Inform a tutor.
Report your observation to your professor or lecturer. However, do not take any further steps without the consent of the individual concerned.
If you are not sure whether your behaviour was perceived as harassment by another person, you can still take action:
- Reflect on your behaviour.
Would you treat a close person (e.g. sister, friend) the same way? How would your behaviour be received by them? You may want to talk to someone else you trust about the incident. - Talk to the other party.
Misunderstandings can often be cleared up in a conversation. It is advisable to hold such a conversation in a public place, such as a cafeteria. - Seek support.
The Respect Office offers confidential counselling and can arrange for further support if needed.
Formal report / external enquiry
As an student of ETH Zurich, you can report incidents of sexual harassment to the External Reporting Office. The External Reporting Office will gather the facts in a formalised manner and with all parties involved. Depending on the office's assessment, they will consult lawyers or commission legal opinions. A recommendation is then made to the superior or the responsible service.
Prerequisites
- The accused individual is an employee of ETH Zurich.
- You are willing to collaborate constructively in the systematic proceedings.
Deadline
The report should be made as soon as possible – usually within six months of the incident.
The external page Equal Opportunities Act defines sexual harassment as any behaviour with a sexual connotation that is unwanted and degrades another person in any way. Harassment may occur while working, studying or attending events. Such conduct may come from employees, students, individuals working for partner companies or external parties.
There is a simple rule for determining whether a harmless flirt, an early stage of a relationship between colleagues at work or a case of sexual harassment has occurred: the intention of the individual causing the harassment is not the deciding factor, but rather how the behaviour is perceived by the individual affected, whether it is perceived as desired or undesired.
Sexual harassment can be expressed in words, gestures or actions. Individuals or groups can be the perpetrators. Examples of this include:
- Unwanted advances
such as seemingly random or forced physical contact, unwanted invitations with a clear intention, stalking of ETH members inside and outside the university, etc. - Sexual references
such as suggestive or ambiguous remarks, jokes about sexual characteristics, sexual behaviour or the sexual orientation of women and men, etc. - Pornographic material
such as showing, hanging or sending pornographic images, etc. - Sexual assault
such as coercion or rape, etc.
Sexual harassment is not harmless! In addition to being prohibited by law, it has far-reaching negative consequences not only for those affected, but for our institution as an entity.
Sexual harassment is not tolerated at ETH Zurich and will result in disciplinary measures. ETH Zurich will take formal action, under employment regulations, irrespective of the position or seniority of the person accused of harassment.
Have you experienced or witnessed inappropriate behaviour at the university but are unwilling to give your name? You can make an anonymous report to ETH Zurich.
Please note: an anonymous report does not automatically trigger a formal process. It is a means of ensuring the continuous development of ETH Zurich.
E-Learning tutorial on dealing with sexual harassment
The E-Learning tutorial on dealing with sexual harassment in the working and study environment is aimed at all ETH members.