First point of contact for anti-discrimination
Have you been insulted or treated unfairly on the basis of racist stereotypes (skin colour, headscarf, etc.) or physical characteristics? Were racist or sexist teaching materials used in a seminar? Have you experienced anti-Semitism? Have negative characteristics been attributed to you on the basis of your gender identity and sexual orientation, or your religious affiliation? Have you been sexually harassed, e.g. through sexualised comments, unwanted touching or leering? Have you experienced discrimination in any other way?
Discrimination and sexual harassment are not phenomena that occur solely outside the university context. Unfortunately, members of the university community are also affected by them time and again. Discrimination of any kind is unacceptable and will not be tolerated at Hochschule München.
Contact
First point of contact for anti-discrimination
If you have experienced or witnessed discrimination or sexual harassment, or if you have behaved in a discriminatory manner yourself, you will find some initial guidance and options for action here.
The Hochschule München’s first point of contact for anti-discrimination offers support and advice to people who have experienced discrimination or sexual harassment. It operates confidentially in the best interests of the person concerned and advocates wholeheartedly for their interests. It is based within the Office of the Gender and Diversity Officer.
Who is the first point of contact?
The first point of contact for anti-discrimination also works closely with the women’s representatives in the respective departments, the university’s women’s representatives, the equal opportunities officers, the representatives for people with severe disabilities, and the representatives for students with disabilities and chronic illnesses.
Support in cases of discrimination
Discrimination refers to the unequal treatment of individuals or groups of people on the basis of certain attributed characteristics such as gender, origin, class, age, ancestry, religion, sexual orientation or physical abilities.
In the higher education context, too, discrimination can be deliberate and overt, but it can also be unconscious and subtle. This can mean that discriminatory behaviour is not immediately recognised.
Discrimination can also manifest itself in various situations or ways, such as through restrictions on access to resources for certain groups of people, through derogatory remarks or stereotypical assumptions about a particular group of people, or through teaching content that portrays certain groups of students in a negative light or excludes them on the basis of attributed characteristics.
Support for victims of sexual harassment
Sexual harassment is a form of discrimination. It is often referred to synonymously as sexualised violence to emphasise the significance of the exercise of power and control through sexual means.
Sexual harassment refers to unwanted, one-sided, sexualised behaviour that inappropriately harasses, intimidates, humiliates or demeans a person.
Sexual harassment can be deliberate and overt, but it can also be unintentional and subtle. This can mean that sexual harassment is not immediately recognised. What people perceive as harassment varies, depends on the context, and is always subjective. What matters is how those affected experience the behaviour. Sexual harassment can manifest itself in various situations and ways and includes verbal, non-verbal or physical acts that violate a person’s dignity. Examples of this include: suggestive remarks by lecturers, unwanted touching of students, sexual jokes, catcalling, obscene gestures, the unsolicited sending of sexually explicit photos, intrusive advances (including on social media) or requests for sexual acts.
HM’s Complaints Office under the AGG
In addition to the first point of contact for Anti-Discrimination, those affected by discrimination have the option of lodging a complaint with the HM’s Complaints Office. The first point of contact for Anti-Discrimination and the HM’s Complaints Office have different purposes and functions in the context of combating discrimination at the university.
As its name suggests, the first point of contact for Anti-Discrimination is the Initial Contact Point for Anti-Discrimination. It provides confidential advice and offers impartial support to those affected within a safe environment. We therefore recommend that anyone affected by discrimination contact the Initial Contact Point for Anti-Discrimination first.
Through the complaints office, HM fulfils its obligations under the General Equal Treatment Act (AGG). The complaints office receives complaints regarding discrimination and harassment, including sexual harassment, conducts a formal complaints procedure and investigates the complaint.
Unlike the first point of contact, the complaints office is bound to remain impartial. Furthermore, it operates in accordance with the principles of due process and without discrimination. The presumption of innocence applies to those against whom allegations have been made. The complaints office will also endeavour to ensure the greatest possible confidentiality, but cannot guarantee this in every case.
The complaints procedure is open to all members of Hochschule München, including its students.
The procedure begins with the submission of the complaint. This may be done either in writing (e.g. by email) or verbally. The complaint must describe the situation perceived as discriminatory as precisely as possible. To this end, witnesses and evidence, such as emails or chat messages, which can substantiate the situation perceived as discriminatory, should be attached or named.
The complaints office is then responsible for clarifying the facts of the matter as soon as possible. In other words, it must establish what happened. To this end, it informs the person against whom the complaint has been made of the complaint, speaks to all those involved, conducts surveys of witnesses, examines further evidence and documents the process. All those involved may be accompanied by a person they trust or by legal counsel.
Once the investigation into the facts has been completed, the Complaints Office draws up a final report, which it forwards to the Legal Services and Compliance Office. The Legal and Compliance Department reviews the final report from a legal perspective, drafts a statement containing recommendations, and refers the matter to the disciplinary superior – that is, the President or the Chancellor – for a decision. They then decide on further action, including any disciplinary measures.
The policy on protection against discrimination and harassment at Hochschule München can be found here
You can contact the complaints office at the following email address: beschwerdestelle@hm.edu