The Anti-Discrimination Office - located in Department 6.1 - 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. In addition, those affected can contact the following offices, which receive and advise 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:
- Central Equal Opportunities Officer of the Senate
- Decentralized Equal Opportunities Officers of the departments
- AStA
- student councils
- Staff Council
- Human Resources Department
- Representatives for the severely disabled,...
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 work satisfaction.
The policy on informal counseling and the official complaints procedure came into force on 14.12.2023 at RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau, so the procedure has been in place for both locations since then.
Contact points
At RPTU in Landau
The Central Equal Opportunities Officer can be contacted as part of the complaints procedure.
NO to discrimination, sexualized harassment or violence!
Working and study conditions
RPTU aims to ensure the best possible working and study conditions, a trusting and respectful working atmosphere and fair, appreciative interaction for employees and students. Discrimination of any kind, such as abuse of power, bullying, stalking, degrading or humiliating behavior, 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 humiliation that can damage not only 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 of complaint
Persons who experience discrimination 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 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 approached 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
Not only a formal complaints procedure, but also the use of informal contact points is intended to ensure that direct and indirect discrimination, in particular (repeated) acts by individuals, can be seen 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 RPTU in Kaiserslautern or RPTU in Landau as well as nationwide, which are always at your disposal!
Complaints and advice
Consulting
In order to receive advice, those affected can turn to various contact points where they can describe their situation and consider together how to deal with the situation. Contact points are also available if it is unclear whether a form of discrimination or sexualized violence has occurred in their personal case.
During counseling, the person affected receives support and advice while maintaining the utmost confidentiality. If necessary, the contact point will consult other competent bodies with the consent of the person concerned. During all counseling sessions, victims have the option of being accompanied by one or more people they trust.
The main purpose of counseling is to help those affected to come to terms with the situation. Anyone affected by discrimination or sexualized violence is initially perplexed. Most of them would like to find a solution on their own on how to deal with the perpetrator. However, they are often at a loss and don't really get any further in their deliberations. In counseling, they then have the opportunity to talk about what happened and how they are feeling. Solutions can also be discussed there.
Those affected can remain anonymous during the counseling process if they wish. The situation is discussed and steps are considered as to how the person(s) affected can deal with the situation. The main actor is the person seeking advice (help for self-help). Both internal RPTU contact persons and external help facilities can be involved in the further process.
A contact point does not accept complaints within the meaning of the General Equal Treatment Act. However, if it becomes clear during the consultation that a complaint should be submitted, the person concerned is referred to the complaints procedure in accordance with Section 13 AGG and the case is forwarded to the complaints office. If a criminal offense is suspected, the case will also be referred to the local police or public prosecutor's office.
Complaint
Complaints can be submitted by individuals or groups of affected persons. It is possible to be represented by others - staff council, AStA, student council, etc.
The Complaints Office puts together a core team consisting of various contact persons, which meets in different constellations depending on the complaint. When putting together 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, the AStA or Department 4 will be involved. If it concerns complaints from employees, the HR department and staff council or, if desired, superiors are involved. If the people involved come together, the person making the complaint benefits from the multiple-eye principle: what ultimately happened can be viewed from different perspectives. Various possible solutions can be developed.
If the complaints office is visited, the person concerned can be accompanied by one or more trusted persons. Procedures and measures are discussed with the designated persons from the core team and the results are recorded. Further steps are initiated accordingly. The complaint can be submitted informally (e.g. by telephone or email and generally anonymously).
Once the official complaint has been submitted, it is reviewed by the core team. The review is based on the General Equal Treatment Act and the Higher Education Act. If the complaint is classified as serious, the respondent is first given the opportunity to respond in writing. They will then be invited to an interview. If necessary, witnesses can also be questioned (in writing / orally). Witness statements are important: The complaint can be substantiatedthrough witness statements and written documentation of the incidents!
The complaints office will treat the matter with the necessary confidentiality. The complaints office will endeavor to keep the complaint anonymous if requested. However, in the interest of a proper examination and clarification of the complaint, complete anonymity can only be ensured if more than one person makes a complaint in the same case.
Further information: Guideline on informal consultation and the official complaints procedure in accordance with §13 AGG in cases of discrimination of any kind and/or sexualized violence at RPTU
Help telephones
Help hotline "Violence against women"
The "Violence against women" helpline is a nationwide advice service for women who have experienced or are still experiencing violence.
The advice service is anonymous, free of charge, barrier-free and available in 18 foreign languages 365 days a year, 24/7.
The helpline offers those affected the opportunity to receive anonymous, competent, safe and barrier-free advice at any time.
Help hotline "Violence against men"
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 is confidential and anonymous if desired.
Other nationwide contact points and campaigns
Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency
"What to do in the event of sexual harassment in the workplace?"
In its guide, the Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency provides information on the rights and counseling options for those affected or anyone interested.
The guide is aimed at employees, employers and works councils.
Orange the World - "Stop violence against women" - Actions 2024
The UN campaign "Orange The World" has been drawing attention to violence since 1991: #16Days from the International Day to End Violence against Women on November 25 to December 10, Human Rights Day.
Since 2008, it has been part of the UN Secretary-General's "UNiTE to End Violence against Women " campaign, which is run by UN Women.
Alliance "Together against sexism"
The new alliance "Together against sexism" is a cooperation between EAF Berlin and the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth and builds on the network "Dialogue forums against sexism" and the subsequent declaration "Together against sexism and sexual harassment".
The aim is to recognize sexism and sexual harassment, take a closer look and establish effective measures against it. Helpful information on your own rights is summarized in the knowledge poster .
Handout "Sexualized discrimination and violence at universities"
The online handout "Sexualized Discrimination and Violence at Universities" from the Federal Conference of Women's and Gender Equality Representatives at Universities (bukof) contains information, support and materials as well as measures against sexualized discrimination and violence at universities.
bukof is the gender policy voice in the discourse on science and higher education policy in Germany.
KONTAKT
Zentrale Gleichstellungsbeauftragte
Zentrale Gleichstellungsbeauftragte
Prof. Dr. Francesca Vidal
Sitz: RPTU in Landau
T +49 (0) 6341 280-32770
E francesca.vidal[at]rptu.de
Stellv. Zentrale Gleichstellungsbeauftragte
Prof. Dr. Karina Pallagst
Sitz: RPTU in Kaiserslautern
T +49 (0) 631 205-5155
E karina.pallagst[at]ru.rptu.de
Büro der Zentralen Gleichstellungsbeauftragten
Juliane Märdian
Bürgerstraße 23 I Raum 043 , EG
76829 Landau in der Pfalz
T +49 (0)6341 280-32771
Stabstelle Gleichstellung, Vielfalt und Familie
Leitung
Natascha Compes, M.A.
Geschäftsstelle Kaiserslautern Postfach 3049 Familienservice Kaiserslautern | Geschäftsstelle Landau Bürgerstraße 23 Familienservice Landau |