Guidline in cases of discrimination of any kinds and/or sexualised violence
Have you been the victim of sexualized violence or discrimination at RPTU?
Do you feel harassed or have you witnessed an incident?
The Equal Opportunities, Diversity and Family Office is the complaints office for cases of sexualized violence and discrimination of any kind in accordance with Section 13 of the General Equal Treatment Act. Those affected can also contact the Representative Body for Severely Disabled Students, AStA, student councils, staff council and HR department, among others. The Equal Opportunities Officers also accept complaints from all university members about harassment, discrimination and sexual violence at our university in accordance with Section 3 (3) and (4) of the General Equal Treatment Act.
As confidential points of contact within RPTU, all contact persons in this area promote a transparent study and work environment. They inform all those affected informally and anonymously about counseling and support services. The aim is to identify conflicts and dangers at an early stage and resolve them appropriately in order to improve the university climate and increase student and employee satisfaction.
The guideline for informal consultation and the official complaints procedure came into force at RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau on December 14, 2023 and has applied to both locations since then.
NO to discrimination, sexualized harassment or violence!
Working and study conditions
The University of Kaiserslautern-Landau (RPTU) aims to ensure the best possible working and study conditions, a trusting and respectful working atmosphere and fair, appreciative cooperation for employees and students. Discrimination of any kind, such as abuse of power, bullying, stalking, degrading or humiliating behaviour, harassment, coercion, violence, especially sexualized violence, and other similar incidents will not be tolerated. Discrimination based on ethnic origin, gender, religion or ideology, disability, age or sexual identity should be prevented or eliminated. Incidents of this kind will be firmly opposed.
Personal rights
Discrimination and sexualized violence represent a massive impairment of personal rights, a violation of the rights of all members of the university under employment law, employment contracts and membership rights, as well as a significant disruption to university operations. It creates a climate of intimidation and degradation that can not only damage confidence in the psychological and physical integrity of the workplace or place of study, the enjoyment and ability to work and study, but also the health of those affected.
Right to complain
Persons who feel discriminated against have the right to lodge a complaint under the General Equal Treatment Act. Members and relatives of the RPTU or persons who are in contact with them can submit a corresponding complaint. In order to ensure the most comprehensive protection possible and to address conflicts as early as possible, contact points are also designated that can be contacted before and independently of a complaint. With the help of the complaints procedure, RPTU is committed to not tolerating sexualized violence and discrimination of any kind; both employees and students should be protected.
Contact points
Both a formal complaints procedure and the use of informal contact points are intended to ensure that direct and indirect discrimination, in particular (repeated) acts by individuals, can be identified more quickly and that discriminatory behavior can be stopped at an early stage.
You can contact the complaints office and the central equal opportunities officer
in Kaiserslautern: c.roevekamp[at]rptu.de / Website
in Landau: francesca.vidal[at]rptu.de / Website
Further Contact Points at the University in Kaiserslautern or in Landau as well as nationwide, which will support you at any time!
Complaints and Counselling
Counselling
In order to obtain consultancy, persons concerned can approach various points of contact describing their situation and considering together how to deal with the situation. Points of contact are also available when there is uncertainty about whether any form of discrimination or sexualised violence has occurred in an individual's case.
During consultancy, the person concerned receives assistance and advice while maintaining the highest level of confidentiality. If necessary, the point of contact, in agreement with the person concerned, shall consult other competent authorities. In all conversations, the person concerned has the possibility to be accompanied by one or several person(s) they trust.
The main aim of the consultancy is to help the person concerned to come to terms with the situation. Anyone affected by discrimination or sexualised violence is first of all confused. Most of them wish to find a solution on their own on how to deal with the individuals who have assaulted them. However, they are often at a loss and don't really get any further in their thoughts. Consultancy then offers them the opportunity to talk about what happened and how they are feeling. Solutions can also be discussed during counselling.
Persons concerned are free to remain anonymous in the counselling process if they so wish. The situation is discussed and steps are considered on how the person(s) concerned should deal with the situation. The main actor is the person seeking counselling (help for self-help). In subsequent steps, both internal RPTU contact persons as well as external help institutions can be involved.
A point of contact does not accept complaints within the meaning of the General Act on Equal Treatment. However, if it becomes clear during counselling that a complaint should be filed, the person concerned is pointed to the complaints procedure pursuant to Section 13 AGG and the case is transferred to the complaints office. If a criminal offence is suspected, the local police or the public prosecutor's office will also be informed.
Complaints
Individuals or groups of individuals concerned may submit complaints. It is possible to be represented by others, staff council, AStA, student council, etc.
The complaints office will put together a core team consisting of various contact persons, which convenes in different constellations depending on the complaint. For the core team, it is important that those who can ultimately make decisions and move the complaint forward come together. If students are involved, for example, then AStA or Department 4 is involved. If complaints are made by employees, the HR department and staff council or, if desired, superiors are involved. When the individuals come together, the person making the complaint benefits from the multiple-eye principle: What ultimately happened can be looked at from different perspectives and therefore a range of possible solutions can be developed.
When visiting the complaints office, the person concerned can be accompanied by one or more persons he or she trusts. Procedures and measures are discussed with the appointed individuals from the core team and the results are documented. Further steps will be initiated accordingly. The complaint can be made informally (e.g. by telephone or e-mail and, in principle, anonymously).
Once the official complaint has been submitted, the core team will review it. The review is done based on the German General Act on Equal Treatment and the Higher Education Act. If the complaint is classified as serious, the person against whom the complaint is made is first given the opportunity to respond in writing. Thereafter, this person will be invited to an interview. If necessary, additional witnesses can be questioned (in writing / orally). Witness statements are important: The complaint can be substantiated by witness statements and written documentation of the incidents!
The complaints office will treat the matter with the necessary confidentiality. The complaints office will endeavour to keep the complaint anonymous if requested. However, to ensure a proper examination and clarification of the complaint, anonymity can only be guaranteed if more than one individual submits a complaint in the same case.
Contact Points
RPTU in Kaiserslautern
The central complaints office within the meaning of the AGG and therefore the first point of contact in complaints procedures in Kaiserslautern is the office of the Equal Opportunities, Diversity and Family Office.
Complaints in KL
RPTU in Landau
Contacts
The first point of contact in complaints procedures in Landau is the Central Equal Opportunities Officer.
Support Hotlines
The Violence against "women" support Hotline
Available round the clock, 365 days a year and free of charge: the Violence against women support hotline offers victims a way of receiving competent advice securely, anonymously and regardless of disability whenever they need.
Our counsellors provide women with confidential support and if needed can help them find appropriate local support options in their area which plays an important role in directing victims, relatives of victims, friends and professionals to appropriate support resources.
The violence against "men" support Hotline
Men also experience violence: the "Violence against men" helpline is a special, nationwide contact point for men affected by violence.
Advice is available by telephone on 0800 123 99 00, by e-mail and chat at www.maennerhilfetelefon.de.
The help service is available from Monday to Thursday from 8 am to 8 pm and on Fridays from 8 am to 3 pm. Counseling sessions are confidential and anonymous if desired.
Contact
Gender Equality Officer
Office of the Gender Equality Officer
Bürgerstraße 23
Building BS | Ground Floor
D-76829 Landau
Gender Equality Officer
Prof. Dr. Francesca Vidal
Location: RPTU in Landau
T +49 (0) 6341 280-32770
E francesca.vidal[at]rptu.de
Deputy Gender Equality Officer
Prof. Dr. Gabi Troeger-Weiß
Location: RPTU in Kaiserslautern
T +49 (0) 631 205-4701
E gabi.troegerweiss[at]rptu.de
Equality, Diversity & Family Affairs Unit
Kaiserslautern Office
PO Box 3049
D-67653 Kaiserslautern
Building 57, ground floor
Head
Dr. Cornelia Rövekamp
T +49 (0)631 205-5902
E c.roevekamp[at]rptu.de
Family Service
Dipl.-Sozialwiss. Leslie Schleese
Building: 57 Room: 271
T +49(0)631 250-4323
E l.schleese[at]rptu.de
Landau Office
Bürgerstraße 23
D-76829 Landau
Building BS, ground floor
Head
Heide Gieseke
T +49 (0)631 205-5902
E heide.gieseke[at]rptu.de
Family Service
Dr. Jane Kühn
Building BS, Room 135
T +49(0)6341 280-37252
E jane.kuehn[at]rptu.de