Home>Living>Combating sexual and gender-based violence

Combating sexual and gender-based violence: Prevent, Support, Report

Section #prevent

Prevent

Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) encompasses any situation in which one person subjects another to acts or words (spoken or written) of a sexual nature without the latter’s consent. In other words, the behaviour is inflicted on and not desired by the other person. It is an expression of the perpetrator’s wish to exert power over their victim.

This behaviour constitutes a violation of the individual’s fundamental rights, notably their physical and psychological integrity. It is illegal and punishable by law.

SGBV forms part of what is known as “the continuum of violence”. This means that it is part of a whole, where all the different forms of violence are interlinked. For example, normalised behaviour, such as telling sexist jokes, contributes to a culture where violence is tolerated and can lead ultimately to the risk of physical harm.

Combating sexual and gender-based violence involves preventing the continuum of violence in its entirety, including behaviour that could initially appear insignificant.

Sexual violence can take many different forms: sexual assault, rape, voyeurism, sexual harassment, etc. Whatever form the violence takes, its consequences for survivors are numerous, significant and lasting: these include anxiety, sleep and/or eating disorders, feelings of intense fear or guilt, depression, isolation, aggressive or high-risk behaviour, etc.

It can have an impact on survivors’ health, as well as on their social, family and professional lives.

Prevention plays a fundamental role in the fight against sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), helping to break down preconceptions, identify violent behaviours and create a healthy environment in which everyone feels valued. For this reason, all first-year students at Sciences Po benefit from a compulsory training programme in three stages.

  • The first stage involves an online awareness-raising course on SGBV, providing a theoretical and legal framework.
  • The second stage takes the form of a two-hour session during orientation week, focusing specifically on consent.
  • The third stage, held during spring semester orientation, adopts the interactive format of “forum theatre”, which enables participants to experience real-life situations, give feedback and test different courses of action, all within a supportive setting.

Furthermore, in addition to this itinerary, the SGBV team organises specific awareness-raising campaigns throughout the year. 

If you have any ideas or suggestions for further awareness-raising, we invite you to contact the SGBV team (referent.vss@sciencespo.fr).

Section #support

Support

Sexual and gender-based violence, regardless of the context in which it occurs or the moment it takes place, has a specific impact on those who experience it. It is therefore essential to provide appropriate support, in order to address the needs expressed by each individual.

With this in mind, Sciences Po has implemented a range of personalised measures to provide support to all victims of sexual violence, whatever the circumstances.

Several different support centres are available to you, depending on what suits you best.

The role of the SGBV Team at Sciences Po is to provide a listening ear, support and guidance to those who feel the need. You will be received by Sarah Ouakrim, SGBV and Gender Equality Officer.

Victims can access a range of support measures, according to their individual needs:

  • medical, in coordination with on-campus health professionals and Sciences Po’s partner, France Victimes,
  • academic, in conjunction with their academic advisor, to identify and implement study adjustments,
  • social and financial, where necessary, financial aid, help with accommodation, assistance with administrative procedures, etc., with the support of Student Services,
  • legal, in association with France Victimes.

As each situation is different and each person has their own narrative, it is important that the support provided is tailored to their personal requirements and needs. It is therefore adapted to suit each individual concerned.

As a rule, during the initial exchange, the SGBV team sets out the range of support available and, together with the survivor, puts together a care pathway. In order to avoid multiple procedures and meetings – which may provoke a reliving of the trauma - the SGBV team coordinates the necessary connections with other services at Sciences Po, all with the utmost respect for confidentiality. No details are shared about the situation, only the needs of the person concerned are addressed. Follow-up and tailoring of support can be provided throughout their studies.

Should you require information or support, you can contact the SGBV Team by email at: referent.vss@sciencespo.fr, or make an appointment directly, using the online schedule.

A confidential listening service, provided free of charge in French and English.

France Victimes

France Victimes, an external partner of Sciences Po, is a victim support group offering listening and guidance as well as social, psychological and legal aid. They can be contacted either by calling the hotline reserved for members of Sciences Po’s communities, open every day from 9am to 9pm, on: +33 (0)1 80 52 33 83, or by sending an email to incident.sciencespo@france-victimes.fr.

An initial confidential consultation is offered over the phone with a trained professional, in either French or English. In-person appointments can then be arranged with professionals based near the campus (including legal specialists, psychologists and social workers), who can help to define the incident experienced and provide support according to the person’s needs.

List of local France Victimes branches near each campus (PDF, 503 ko).

Health Centre nurses

The nurses at each Health Centre serve as the on-campus SGBV relay:

Those who directly or indirectly witness a SGBV incident, as well as members of student associations, may be unsure how to react to someone who has experienced such a situation. Whether it be a need to understand, a query about what stance to adopt, or a wish to liaise with the SGBV team, the latter is available to talk, advise and provide support.

Section #report

Filing a report

Section #internal-procedure

Internal disciplinary procedure

The internal procedure at Sciences Po involves the processing of facts that may breach the regulations and charters governing the institution, and more broadly the French Code of Education. It applies to incidents which occur within the institutional framework of Sciences Po: on its premises, during teaching or student association activities, or at events organised and supervised by the institution.

The potential filing of an official complaint is a separate measure, quite distinct from the internal procedure. The latter does not replace or prevent possible criminal proceedings, which fall under the jurisdiction of the competent authorities (police, gendarmes or the courts).

In the event of acts likely to constitute a criminal offence (sexual harassment, sexual assault, physical or psychological abuse), it is therefore recommended to file a complaint with the police, the gendarmerie or the prosecution service. The listening and support service at France Victimes is at your disposal to advise you with this procedure (incident.sciencespo@france-victimes.fr).

Section #how-to

How to file a report

All members of the Sciences Po community - students, staff and faculty - can report: 

  • an incident of sexist and gender-based violence that they have experienced,
  • an incident of sexist and gender-based violence that they have witnessed.

The report will be heard by the SGBV Team. The way the statement is processed is aligned to the preferences and the pace of the person making the report: it can be made at a one-to-one meeting, by email (referent.vss@sciencespo.fr) or by using the online contact form.

The statement includes:  

  • the identity of the persons involved (the person making the complaint, the person implicated and any witnesses), 
  • a precise description of events (dates, places, circumstances),
  • any physical evidence which may help to understand the situation (interactions, testimony, etc.).

The report is then submitted to the Preliminary Internal Investigation Unit (CEIP), who assesses its admissibility.

Section #follow-up

Follow-up to the report

Analysis of admissibility by the CEIP

The CEIP examines the possibility of conducting a preliminary internal investigation (EIP), according to three cumulative criteria:  

  • The facts reported pertain to the institutional perimeter of Sciences Po,
  • The facts reported have the potential to infringe the regulations and/or charters applicable at Sciences Po,
  • The report is sufficiently detailed and substantiated. 

Further information on the CEIP

Preliminary internal investigation (EIP)

Should a preliminary internal investigation be opened, the CEIP gathers all useful material conducive to defining a possible breach of the regulations and charters applicables at Sciences Po (written accounts, messages, emails, photos or any other document helpful to the inquiry). It also conducts hearings, of the person who reported the incident, any witnesses, and then of the person or persons implicated.

Report from the CEIP and decision by the Director

On completion of the investigation, the CEIP draws up a report, along with its recommendations, which is sent to the Director of the IEP de Paris, in his or her role as competent prosecuting authority, to make any decisions deemed appropriate.

Section #direction
Section #disciplinary-section

Referral to the disciplinary section

In the event of a referral to the disciplinary section, the report drawn up by the CEIP is then sent to the relevant disciplinary section, who forwards it to the person implicated (the respondent). This report includes all the records and documents gathered by the CEIP during its investigation.

Referral to the disciplinary section is formalised by a detailed report (specifying the alleged acts, the context and the various elements justifying the referral). A pair of rapporteurs investigate the case and provide an investigative report which is examined during a hearing by the disciplinary commission. The disciplinary section decides whether a breach of discipline has been committed, and, where applicable, imposes a penalty. The scale of disciplinary sanctions applicable depends on the status of the offender (student, faculty member or employee) and is determined by the French Code of Education (FR) or employment law (FR).

The disciplinary section’s decision is displayed on the premises. It may be decided to anonymise the identity of the persons involved.

Certain penalties (warning, reprimand, accountability measures) may be removed after three years if there is no recurrence.

Further details:

Section #confidentiality

Focus on confidentiality

The entire process is governed by a strict obligation of confidentiality, which applies to all the persons involved in the SGBV programme (CEIP, SGBV team, disciplinary section). Each person involved is reminded that exchanges, meetings and documents relative to the procedure must not be circulated, in order to guarantee the smooth-running of the investigations and safeguard the rights of all parties concerned. 

This confidentiality shall not impede compliance with respect of the principle of adversarial process, specifically:

  • the transmission of the investigative report to the person implicated in the event of referral to the disciplinary section. 
  • the transmission of all documents and information (including the administrative investigation report) to police and gendarmerie services upon judicial request.
Section #faq

Frequently Asked Questions

Witnessing a violent incident, directly or indirectly, is no trivial matter, and it is not always easy to know how best to react. However, your reaction can make a real difference, and it is important to bring your support to the victim, ensuring they feel safe.

Here is some advice and good practices.

Intervention

Depending on the situation, and without putting yourself or the victim in danger, you can try to intervene. You could create a distraction, by approaching the victim, pretending to know them, or, if you think it seems possible, by confronting the aggressor directly. Do not hesitate to seek support from someone nearby (a member of reception staff, security guard, colleague, etc.) who can assist you or call the police (17) should the situation present an immediate danger.

Support

Be supportive and make sure the person feels safe. Stay with them, lend a sympathetic ear and provide reassurance. Show you believe them without blaming them, you are there to listen, not to judge or make them feel guilty.

In some cases, it may also be important to maintain a certain distance, as any physical contact, particularly if you do not know the person, could be unsettling.

Bear in mind that there is no such thing as a “typical” victim, nor “the right reaction” for a person who has experienced violence: each person reacts differently and as best they can.

Guidance

Redirect them towards the various support systems available at Sciences Po (SGBV team, France Victimes, SGBV relay health centre nurses), and outside (specialist associations, victim support organisations, etc.). You could suggest contacting the SGBV team on their behalf so that they don’t have to do it themselves, or making an appointment together.

It is essential to respect the person’s choice and their right to privacy. Do not divulge to anyone else the information the person has shared with you, without their consent.

You can reach out to the SGBV team for advice on the situation experienced by the victim from a professional point of view. It is important not to be alone. This can be done  while at the same time respecting the victim’s anonymity.

Submit a report to the SGBV team by completing the online form, by booking an appointment or by sending an email

There are no specific procedures for international students, who benefit from the same support as the rest of the student community. Meetings can be held in English throughout the process and the investigation if required. However, certain stages, such as the drafting of the Disciplinary committee’s decision, will initially need to be drawn up in French, as it is an official administrative document. An informal translation into English can subsequently be drawn up if  necessary.

Filing a report means that you accept to reveal your identity, that of the person or persons involved in the incident, as well as the alleged facts. So it is not possible to file an anonymous report.

Nonetheless, all the parties involved in the filing of a report and the attendant consequences on the student’s studies (SGBV team, CEIP, disciplinary section, academic team, student services, etc.) are bound by an obligation of confidentiality.

You can find the composition of each of the Disciplinary Sections (“Users”, competent with regard to students and “Faculty”, competent with regard to adjunct faculty and teaching staff at the IEP de Paris) on the relevant page and on the FAQ (PDF). 

In order to file a complaint for sexual and gender-based violence, two options are possible:

  • Directly with the police or gendarmerie, by calling 17 or by going to the police station in person.
  • By writing to the French public prosecutor (page in French).

The listening and support service at France Victimes is at your disposal to advise you on these procedures. 

Details of penalties applicable according to type of offence (in French).

Survivors, witnesses: who can I contact?

The SGBV Team: 

For further information or assistance, please write to referent.vss@sciencespo.fr or make an appointment.

The external support service run by France Victimes:

Available 9am to 9pm, seven days a week
Tel.: 01 80 52 33 83
incident.sciencespo@france-victimes.fr

On-campus contact points:

Nurse Dijon Campus
Nurse Le Havre Campus
Nurse Menton Campus
Nurse Nancy Campus
Nurse Paris Campus
Nurse Poitiers Campus
Nurse Reims Campus

REPORTING AN INCIDENT

Fill out the report form