Support Unit Against Sexual Harassment and Assault - About Us

In December 2019, Bahçeşehir University (BAU) announced, by publishing a declaration of intent, that it would carry out work to ensure gender equality across the institution and to prevent all forms of violence and discrimination, particularly sexual harassment and workplace violence. Following this declaration, a working group of academics, each an expert in their field, with the mission of developing an egalitarian and inclusive approach in all of BAU's activities and processes, began its work in October 2020. The working group, which we named the BAU Equality and Inclusion Studies Commission (BAUEQUAL), has created a work program on what can be done regarding gender equality, sexual harassment, gender-based violence, workplace violence and discrimination-based violence, which it believes will have lasting results.

For more information about BAU EQUAL, click here.

While BAUEQUAL attaches importance to preventive training on the path to becoming a violence-free campus/workplace, it also aims to take the initiative in determining the course of action to be followed when such incidents occur. In this context, the Support Unit Against Sexual Harassment and Assault was established at Bahçeşehir University as the authority to which any individual may apply if subjected to an act falling within the definitions of gender-based violence, discrimination, sexual violence or psychological violence. To this end, the Bahçeşehir University Policy Document Against Sexual Harassment and Assault and the Bahçeşehir University Directive on the Support Unit Against Sexual Harassment and Assault have been prepared.

For the Directive, click here.

For the Policy Document, click here.

For the unit's promotional video, click here.