Sexual Harassment and Discrimination

Sukurta: 06 February 2018

None of the forms of sexual harassment or coercion are tolerated at Vilnius University. We aim to create a community that is safe, healthy, engaging and open for diversity, nurturing the culture of mutual help and regard. Any form of sexual abuse is against the values of our community, contradictory to academic ethics, destructive to community’s trust for each other.

As a matter of prevention in this area, we aim to provide possibilities for employees and students to reveal sensitive information while maintaining complete confidentiality. This is possible to achieve only through cooperation. Therefore, foremost, all the members of our community are welcome to take individual and collective responsibility ensuring that workplace/professional relationships are based on mutual respect and sensitivity to the balance of power.

What behavior is considered sexual harassment?

The Law on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men of the Republic of Lithuania defines:
“Sexual harassment means any form of unwanted and insulting verbal, written or physical conduct of a sexual nature with a person, with the purpose or effect of violating the dignity of a person, in particular when creating an intimidating, hostile, humiliating or offensive environment”.

Attributes of sexual harassment:

  • Power disproportion between harasser and individual who is being harassed (i. e. lecturer – student; supervisor – subordinate, etc.);
  • The behavior that violates dignity, is unwanted and insulting;
  • Various unwanted actions in the following forms of sexual harassment: physical (touching, hugging, kissing), verbal (sexually suggestive remarks, jokes, insulting questions related to a private life), non-verbal (showing sexual photographs and videos, lustful staring, gestures), virtual (sending private or public messages with sexual content).

 

The Policy on and the Procedure for the Prevention of Harassment

 

The Policy on the Prevention of Discrimination, Harassment, Sexual Harassment, Violence and Persecution at Vilnius University describes and implements the ways of recognising discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment, violence and persecution, possible forms thereof, as well as the principles of protection of the persons who sought assistance on or reported cases of discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment, violence and persecution, the assistance provided to them and the investigation of the reports submitted by them.

The provisions of this Prevention Policy shall be mandatory for all members of the Vilnius University community.

A member of the community or a third person who has experienced, noticed, or learned about cases of discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment, violence or persecution, may contact either the head of their unit or the heads of the units where the complainee or the victim works or studies, or the direct supervisors of such persons, or the appointed responsible employees at such units (will be updated soon).

These cases can also be addressed to the University's Trust Line by e-mail at 

POLICY ON THE PREVENTION OF DISCRIMINATION, HARASSMENT, SEXUAL HARASSMENT, VIOLENCE AND PERSECUTION AT VILNIUS UNIVERSITY

THE DESCRIPTION OF THE PROCEDURE FOR THE INVESTIGATION OF DISCRIMINATION, HARASSMENT, SEXUAL HARASSMENT, VIOLENCE AND PERSECUTION CASES AT VILNIUS UNIVERSITY

How can I report?

If you have experienced or noticed any cases of sexual harassment around you, please contact:

Urtė Lina Orlova
E-mail:

All of the reports are considered, complete confidentiality is guaranteed! Special committee will undertake the investigation.

Psychological consultations are also provided at Vilnius University

Training and Research Center
E-mail:
Phone: +370 5 268 7254
Office hours:
Monday–Thursday: 9.00–18.00; Friday: 9.00–17.00.