If you have experienced or witnessed sexualized harassment, discrimination, or violence, or you need more information about this issue, then you should reach out and seek support from a professional or institution specialized in this area. We are here to help you find a way out of a situation of sexualized harassment, discrimination, or violence in a way that works for you. You can start by getting in contact with a counselor over the phone, via online chat, or by email during our office hours to arrange a follow-up or more extensive consultation. Feel free to get in touch with the Contact Person in Cases of Sexualized Harassment, Discrimination and Violence at FU Berlin Wendy Stollberg or another counseling point. People of all genders and sexual orientations are welcome at the consultations. There are many counseling centers within and outside of Freie Universität Berlin that offer support to people of all genders, not to mention specialized counseling points for women, men, transgender people, and people with different sexual orientations.

Confidential Counseling Services

You can get in contact with the the Contact Person in Cases of Sexualized Harassment, Discrimination and Violence at FU Berlin, one of the Gender Equality Officers, the Center for Academic Advising and Psychological Counseling, or another counseling point if you would like to attend a confidential counseling session. Our representatives will listen to you, develop a solution that is tailored to resolving your issue, and only take direct action with your prior consent. Please get in touch with Brigitte Reysen-Kostudis if you are primarily interested in receiving psychological counseling. If you are most concerned with an incident of this nature impacting your studies or employment situation or you wish to seek a remedy within an institutional and/or legal framework, then you should reach out to your Local Gender Equality Officer or the Chief Gender Equality Officer. The Contact Person in Cases of Sexualized Harassment, Discrimination and Violence at FU Berlin can help you to select the best counseling point for your needs. All counseling sessions are subject to strict confidentiality. You do not need to share your name in this case.

Submitting an Official Complaint

If you want to make a complaint regarding an incident of “sexual harassment” in accordance with the General Act on Equal Treatment (Allgemeines Gleichbehandlungsgesetz AGG) or the Berlin State Anti-Discrimination Act (Landesantidiskriminierungsgesetz LADG), you can do so by contacting the Complaint Center for Discrimination Cases. You can also contact anyone who occupies a management or supervisory role at the University.

The responsible bodies are obliged to look into every report of sexualized harassment, discrimination and violence and take appropriate measures for the purposes of investigation, monitoring the situation and prevention. Please note, that confidentiality cannot always be guaranteed for complaints and anonymity is generally not possible. Nonetheless, the wishes of the person(s) submitting the complaint will be respected as far as possible and it is ensured that they will not suffer any negative consequences on their personal or professional lives or on their studies.

We recommend that you seek support from a counseling point before submitting an official complaint.