Prevention of sexual harassment

FM MU applies the basic principles in dealing with sexual harassment cases, which are available assistance, protection of the victim, avoidance of bias and maintaining objectivity and confidentiality. Counselling is provided to victims, witnesses and accused of sexual harassment. Any activity with sexual overtones without the other person's consent is unacceptable. The Faculty of Medicine fosters an environment where it is a commonplace to define oneself against such activity and behaviour.

Basic terms

Basic terms

Sexual harassment

Sexual harassment is any form of unwanted verbal, non-verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature, with the purpose or effect of violating the dignity of a person, in particular when creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment. Sexual harassment includes sexual coercion, unwelcome sexual attention and sexist behaviour (use of gender stereotypes with a sexual connotation).

In the academic setting it may occur between students, between teachers, by teachers toward students and by students toward teachers.

Sexual harassment may assume various forms in the university environment, such as:

  • repeated unwanted sexual advances,
  • demanding sexual conduct for a countervalue (e.g. better conditions at an exam),
  • inappropriate comments of an individual or a group based on sex, gender or sexuality,
  • unwanted e-mails, photographs or messages of a sexual nature,
  • inappropriate sex jokes and obscene gestures,
  • exposing breasts, genitals or buttocks in a public context,
  • rape or attempted rape,
  • unwelcome touching.

Dictionary

Dumbing down

Making light of the actions of the perpetrator of a crime or minimizing the suffering of the victim. Belittling can be perpetrated by asking inappropriate questions, such as "Not that much happened to you when you knew him, did it?". It is one of the causes of secondary victimisation.

Gender

A term referring to socially and culturally conditioned and constructed differences between women and men that are historically and locally variable. They are not a natural and immutable characteristic of women and men, but reflect the current state of social relations between them. As such, gender stands in contrast to biological differences, between women and men

Gender-based violence

All acts of physical, sexual, psychological economic or other forms of violence that target women because they are women or men because they are men, or acts of such violence that disproportionately affect women or men.

Gender stereotypes

Simplistic and biased ideas concerning the characteristics, attitudes and roles of women and men in society, in employment and in the family. Generalizations about male and female characteristics can often lead to disadvantages for those whose behaviour deviates from the stereotype (e.g. pressure on boys and men interested in so-called 'feminine activities').

False accusations

Falsely accusing another person of a criminal offence, often with the intention of causing that person to be prosecuted. This is a criminal offence, so a person can be punished by imprisonment for committing it.

Violent person

An individual who commits any form of domestic or gender-based violence.

Victim vs. Victimised

Any person who feels that he or she is a victim of a crime is considered to be a victim of the crime committed, unless the contrary is apparent or there is a clear abuse of the victim's status. Only a natural person can be a victim of a crime.

The victim shall act as a victim if criminal proceedings have been initiated. The victim is a party to the criminal proceedings (as is the accused) and may also be a legal person.

Secondary victimisation

These are the consequences of, for example, insensitive behaviour and emotional damage to the victim by inadequate media access, indifferent attitude of the environment, repeated and long interrogations, distrust of the child's testimony, confrontation of the victim with the accused, etc.

Sexual violence

Any sexual conduct involving attempts to achieve sexual intercourse, unwanted sexual comments and advances, acts directed towards trafficking or otherwise directed against the sexuality of an individual using coercion. In most cases, sexual violence entails the use of sexuality as a tool of power.

Sexual coercion

under Section 186 of the Penal Code: Sexual coercion is committed by a person who coerces another (by force, threat of force or other harm, but also by taking advantage of his or her defencelessness) into self-defence. Sexual coercion also occurs if the perpetrator takes advantage of his/her position or the victim's influence/dependence (e.g. teacher, parish priest, employer) and through this coerces the other to have sexual intercourse, to sexually self-dispose, to expose himself/herself.

Criminal offence

An unlawful act that is made punishable by a criminal law and exhibits the characteristics specified in such law

Types of offences

Misdemeanors (negligent crimes and those intentional crimes for which the penal law provides for imprisonment with a maximum penalty of five years or less.), felonies - crimes that are not misdemeanors under the penal law, especially serious crimes - intentional crimes for which the penal law provides for imprisonment with a maximum penalty of ten years or more.

Criminal notification

A report of facts indicating that a crime has been committed, which may be made to any police authority or public prosecutor's office and may be made orally or in writing. The report must indicate to which law enforcement authority it is addressed, who makes it and what matter and person(s) it concerns.

Victimisation

The process by which a person becomes a victim of a crime.

Rape

under Section 185 of the Penal Code: Rape is committed by an offender who forces another person to have intercourse or other forms of sexual gratification by violence, threat of violence or other grievous harm, or by taking advantage of his or her defencelessness. Other serious harm may include, for example, the publication of photographs of the victim or the removal of children. The defencelessness will be involved, for example, if the person raped is under the influence of drugs, alcohol or asleep. Rape also includes situations where the perpetrator puts the victim in a state of defencelessness (e.g. by getting her drunk). Rape also includes oral, anal and similar practices.

Particularly vulnerable victim

Victims who are at greater risk of secondary harm or intimidation by the perpetrator. These victims may also be particularly vulnerable to exacerbating the stress and emotional trauma experienced as a result of being involved in the criminal proceedings themselves, e.g. during interrogation. The law identifies several groups of particularly vulnerable victims - victims under the age of 18, elderly or disabled persons, victims of trafficking offences, victims of sexual offences, offences involving coercion, violence or threat of violence, offences committed because of membership of a nation, race, ethnic group, religion or class.

The most common myths about sexual assault

The perpetrator is usually a stranger
As mentioned in the previous chapter, most cases of sexual violence are perpetrated by people close to you who you know well, often trust or depend on, or are an authority figure. Only about 20% of cases are assaulted by a stranger.


The main motive for sexual violence is sexual desire
Sexual violence is primarily about exercising power and control, humiliation and taking advantage of the physical or other superiority that the perpetrator has over you. Sexual desire plays almost no role in these cases.

Sexual violence only affects attractive young women
Sexual violence can affect anyone, regardless of gender, age, sexual orientation, etc. It is not the subjective attractiveness of the victim that plays a major role in sexual assault, but the desire for control and power on the part of the attacker.

Only a man can be the aggressor
Sexual violence is also committed by women against men. It is even more difficult for men to confide their trauma or even report sexual violence to the police. The biggest obstacle is usually the stereotypical perception of men as fearless individuals who must always defend themselves against women.


There are no compelling reasons why a victim cannot report a sexual assault immediately
On the contrary. Victims face a number of obstacles in their decision to report the assault. Fear or feelings of shame and guilt play a role, which are strongly supported by the still persistent stereotype that victims are to blame for the assault. They then find it very difficult to confide in someone about their traumatic experience. However, it may also be the perpetrator's threats that prevent them from talking about the violence, and ambivalent feelings towards the perpetrator may also prevent reporting if it is someone very close to the victim. The victim's young age or current psychological state may also be an obstacle.

If she really didn't want to, she would have resisted
If the victim does not actively resist the sexual violence, it does not mean that she approves of, likes or does not mind the violence. It means that there are objective reasons why she is unable or incapable of developing any resistance. She may fear that her attacker's aggression will escalate through her defensive actions, she may be paralyzed by the attack, or she may have previous experience that resistance is futile and only exacerbates the effects of the sexual assault.

Rape cannot occur in a relationship
Whoever forces another to have sexual intercourse or other similar sexual intercourse, or takes advantage of his or her defencelessness to do so, commits the offence of rape, whether the victim is a stranger or his or her own partner.


I'm sure she was wearing something provocative
Sexual violence is always the responsibility of the perpetrator. Most victims of sexual violence were dressed in ordinary civilian clothes, such as a regular pantsuit, a T-shirt and jeans, a summer dress, a winter jacket, work clothes, or even children's pajamas. No clothing is responsible for sexual violence.

Crimes related to sexually motivated assaults

Perpetrators of sexual violence may commit crimes including:


- bodily harm (§ 146 of the Criminal Code),
- grievous bodily harm (§ 145 of the Criminal Code),
- cruelty to a person entrusted to their care (§ 198 of the Criminal Code),
- dangerous threats (§ 353 CC),
- dangerous persecution (§ 354 CC),
- restriction of personal liberty (§ 171 of the Criminal Code),
- deprivation of personal liberty (§ 170 of the Criminal Code),
- oppression (§ 177 of the Criminal Code),
- abduction (§ 172 of the Criminal Code),
- extortion (§ 175 CC),
- rape (Section 185 of the Criminal Code),
- sexual coercion (§ 186 of the Criminal Code),
- sexual abuse (Section 187 of the Criminal Code),
- pimping (Section 189 of the Criminal Code),
- prostitution endangering the moral development of children (Section 190 of the Criminal Code),
- dissemination of pornography (§ 191 of the Criminal Code),

and others.

ABSENCE OF CONSENT

All types of sexual violence have in common
common denominator, which is lack of consent.

Consent can be seen as a continuous process in the course of any intimate encounter, where both partners can say stop at any stage, while the absence of open consent cannot be seen as a tacit yes.

What is sexual harassment and how do I defend myself? You can also find information in the guides (in czech).

Who can you contact if you need help?

If you are unsure if you have been a victim of sexual harassment, you may contact the faculty contact person or contact the MU Counseling Center at poradenstvi@muni.cz. The contact persons are also available to those who have been accused of harassment and feel they have been unfairly harmed by the accusation.

Contact persons at FM MU

Mgr. Gabriela Tomaštíková

HR manager – HR Award

Phone: +420 549 49 7478
E‑mail:

Gabriela has been working at LF MU since 2020. She works as HR manager and manages the HR Award agenda, whose main goal is to improve working conditions and implement transparent and functioning processes at the faculty. Her agenda also includes equal opportunities issues. She is the creator and now co-author of the information website Safe Faculty. She sees promoting a safe and informed environment as an important part of her work. In November 2023, she attended a workshop for contact persons by Konsent and is available to anyone who needs a no-obligation consultation or assistance with reporting a case.

Face-to-face meetings are available by appointment at the Bohunice University Campus and at other suitable off-campus locations.

doc. PhDr. Miroslav Světlák, Ph.D.

kancelář 513 v budova F01B1, Kamenice 3
Phone: +420 532 23 2089
E‑mail:

Miroslav worked as a clinical psychologist and psychotherapist at the University Hospital Brno. Since 2018 he has been working as a teacher at the Faculty of Medicine. As part of the Institute's counselling services, he is in daily contact with students and employees of the Faculty of Medicine. He has attended a workshop for contact persons by the Konsent organisation and is therefore available to potential victims for consultation or for help with reporting a case.

Victim

What to dou if you are a victim of sexual harassment?

If it happens that you have been a victim of sexual harassment and you wish to tackle the situation:

  • If possible, say NO. It is often difficult to express your disagreement, especially if there is a power imbalance. Therefore, if you do not say no, it cannot be automatically understood as a consent. It is useful to let the other person know that your boundaries have been transgressed, but if you cannot do it, do not blame yourself. It is not your duty to defend yourself; it is everyone’s duty not to commit sexual misconduct.
  • Gather evidence. Keep the correspondence with the perpetrator, if any.

    If you become a victim of sexual abuse, you can report it to the police. In case you decide to do so, we recommend first getting in touch with Persefona, who will provide the necessary assistance and one of their staff may accompany you to the police station.
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If it happens that you are sexually harassed, we want to ensure you that:

  • Your feelings are legitimate. Everyone has different boundaries. What is considered a joke by someone may be unpleasant or hurting for someone else. It is you who sets the boundaries of what you feel comfortable with.
  • It is not your fault. When a person makes humiliating or sexist comments, improper proposals or physical assaults, it is never your fault. The responsibility always lies with the instigator.
  • You are not alone in this. Sexual harassment represents an extreme mental load for its victim. There are a lot of people at the university and elsewhere who will help you to deal with the experience.
  • It is not your responsibility to report the case.

This text was created in collaboration with the Konsent association, which exposes myths about sex and sexual violence. All used text sources can be found below or here.

More information (in czech)

Project BSAFE

The BSAFE Project’s general objective is to prevent all forms of gender-based violence by tackling its root causes and to protect and support the victims of GBV.

About project Information to download

Witness

What to do if you are a witness to sexual harassment?

If you witness a situation which you consider sexual harassment:

  • Ask the person whom you think a victim whether she/he feels comfortable or whether she/he needs your help.
  • Express disapproval of the situation. It is usually difficult for the victim to oppose harassment. Therefore, it helps if you take a stand even if you are not directly affected by the situation. The victim will know she/he is not alone to defend their rights. This does not apply just to sexual harassment. For instance, when a teacher makes jokes demeaning minorities it is good to express disapproval as a member of the majority; when a teacher humiliates women in class, disagreement should be voiced also by a male student (and vice versa).
  • In case it is difficult to express disapproval or ask the victim during the incident, try to approach her/him later (after the class, exam etc.) and make sure they do not need help.

In case someone confided in you about being the victim of sexual harassment:

  • Assure the person that you believe them and that you appreciate they trust
  • Emphasize that the person is not guilty.
  • Bear in mind that each person responds differently. While someone is able to give a rational account of events, someone else may be paralysed.
  • Ask the person whether she/he wants any help. You can offer them various possibilities to tackle the situation as mentioned above.
  • Suppress your curiosity. It may be beneficial to speak about the experience for some people, whereas it may be a trauma for others since they are forced to relive the situation.
  • Do not push them. A victim of sexual harassment is not obliged to deal with the situation or report it. She/he experienced a demanding experience that violated their personal integrity. Try to formulate your suggestions as offers – for instance: “Do you want me to call Modrá linka with you?” Do not formulate them as orders: “Call the police! You must report it!”
  • Do not do anything against the will of the person who confided in you.
  • Being a confidential person for a victim of sexual harassment can be psychologically challenging. You can also seek help – you can contact one of the contact persons at MU who will provide you with individual advice.

Leaflet

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Project StandUp against street harassment

Harassment in public is an experience that devalues women and men of all sexual orientations, cultures and religions, and makes them doubt their own experience.

If we observe harassment without intervening, we deepen the trauma experienced by the person subjected to harassment and at the same time reinforce the perpetrator's idea that his behaviour is okay. Step by step, reaction by reaction, we want to break this inertia.

The StandUp Project offers digital training that can help you learn what to do if you witness harassment in public.

Solving incidents at MU

Principles to dealing with cases at MU

Sexual harassment is a very serious form of inappropriate behaviour and is not tolerated at Masaryk University. The university applies the following principles to dealing with sexual harassment:

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Available assistance

Masaryk University provides counselling to victims, witnesses and those accused of sexual harassment, approaches them with an offer of assistance and provides the relevant information. All the necessary information and contacts are available on the website so that anyone can access them without having to explain their situation to anyone first. Contact persons provide information on possible solutions and assistance both inside and outside the university, so that the person making a report can choose the solution that suits him/her best. If the complainant contacts the contact persons, they offer to listen with understanding; they will not downplay the situation and will not push this person in any way. Psychological counselling is also available as part of university assistance.

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Victim protection

The safety of the person reporting the incident is a priority for MU and its representatives. The contact person who primarily communicates with this person remains the same all the time. The number of people involved in the resolution process is minimized. All persons involved are bound to maintain confidentiality. We prevent secondary victimization of the victim. The protection of the victim continues even after the resolution of the incident at all levels of working or study life.

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Prevention of bias

Any persons who could have a personal interest in the outcome of the resolution process are excluded from the resolution of the case (e.g., colleagues who do not want to harm their colleague). This protects both sides of the incident from bias.

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Maintaining the objectivity of the resolution

A different person deals with each party to the incident. These persons communicate with each other only to the extent of communicating the facts found.

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Principle of confidentiality

All persons involved in the resolution process are bound by confidentiality obligations. The information about the incident is kept confidential.

Help

Masaryk University has created a network of contact persons who provide counselling to victims, witnesses and those accused of sexual harassment. These contact persons are professionally trained in this field and are actively interested in the topic. As far as communication with the person involved in such a case is concerned, all contact persons completed tailor-made workshops provided by the Konsent organization and they are also thoroughly acquainted with the process of dealing with such a case within MU.

If you contact one of the contact persons, you can expect that they will first of all listen to you, will inform you about the help tools available at and outside the university, and will introduce you to the resolution process within MU. All of this could help you make an informed decision about how to handle your situation. If you want to submit your case for resolution within MU, the contact person is ready to help you with this.

You can contact the contact person who is part of the MU Student Advisory Centre, the MU ombuds, Students' Chamber of Academic Senate and contact persons from individual faculties and other units. It is possible to freely choose the contact person you will contact, whether you are a student or an employee. In addition to choosing whether to contact a woman or a man, you can also choose to use a contact from your faculty or a contact person outside the faculty.

Contact persons for dealing with sexual harassment incidents are people who hold also other positions within the university, so please keep in mind that even if they try to be available for you as soon as possible, sometimes it may not be immediately. If you decide to meet the contact person in person, we recommend arranging a specific date for the meeting, which will help ensure enough space and time for the interview (of course there is no need to write any details in advance, just write to the contact person that you want to meet).

Contact persons at FM MU

Mgr. Gabriela Tomaštíková

HR manager – HR Award

Phone: +420 549 49 7478
E‑mail:

Gabriela has been working at LF MU since 2020. She works as HR manager and manages the HR Award agenda, whose main goal is to improve working conditions and implement transparent and functioning processes at the faculty. Her agenda also includes equal opportunities issues. She is the creator and now co-author of the information website Safe Faculty. She sees promoting a safe and informed environment as an important part of her work. In November 2023, she attended a workshop for contact persons by Konsent and is available to anyone who needs a no-obligation consultation or assistance with reporting a case.

Face-to-face meetings are available by appointment at the Bohunice University Campus and at other suitable off-campus locations.

doc. PhDr. Miroslav Světlák, Ph.D.
room 513, building F01B1, Kamenice 3
Phone: +420 532 23 2089
E‑mail:

Miroslav worked as a clinical psychologist and psychotherapist at the University Hospital Brno. Since 2018 he has been working as a teacher at the Faculty of Medicine. As part of the Institute's counselling services, he is in daily contact with students and employees of the Faculty of Medicine. He has attended a workshop for contact persons by the Konsent organisation and is therefore available to potential victims for consultation or for help with reporting a case.

Contacts at MU

External organizations

Other important contacts

Police CR

158

Emergency medical service

155

Emergency number

112

Gynekological emergency Brno, Obilní trh

532 231 111 (spojovatel)

Contraception line Cilestýna

541 217 777

   

Hope line Brno

547 212 333

HELP LINE AIDS

800 144 444

   

Trust line CSS Praha

222 580 697

Sexuological depatrment FN Brno, Netroufalky 1

532 231 333

sexuologickaporadna@fnbrno.cz

NONSTOP Pharmacy Kobližná 7, Brno-střed

542 212 110

Private sexuological centre Gona, Nár. tř. 25, Praha 1

221 085 288

AZYL LISA Praha

m.azyl-lisa.webnode.cz

Help group SASA Praha

sasa.obetiznasilneni.cz

help for victims

znasilneni.infonia.com

Community Nenech mě bý-í-t

www.nenechmeby-i-t.cz

Tips

Tips on how to defend yourself

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How do you speak up if, for example, a teacher repeatedly makes unpleasant remarks? The following tips can help them negotiate a more pleasant environment.

Clear simple sentences like:
"I don't like these jokes".
"I'm uncomfortable listening to..."
"It bothers me when..."
"I was offended when..."


If the situation is heated, it can also be commands:
"Don't touch me like that again."
"Don't say things like that to me again."
"Don't ever send me anything like that again."

Need more tips? Visit pages Moderní sebeobrana.

Gender sensitive communication

Gender-sensitive language is language that does not ridicule, objectify or discriminate against anyone on the basis of gender identity, expression, sexuality or any social or physical characteristics.

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