According to a survey, sexual harassment often affects students or employees of universities. According to a survey published on Monday by the Leibniz Institute for Social Sciences in Cologne, almost a third of those surveyed have experienced sexual harassment during their studies or at work.

Six percent reported physical violence, three percent sexual violence. The institute carried out the survey together with European partners as part of the EU project Unisafe at European universities and research institutions.

Overall, 62 percent of those surveyed said they had experienced at least one form of gender-based violence at their facility. A comprehensive definition of the term is used in the study. Physical, sexual, psychological, economic and online forms of gender-based violence were recorded.

Threats, outbursts of anger, disrespectful addressing

57 percent of respondents reported psychological violence. According to the questionnaires, these include threats, outbursts of anger, disrespectful addressing, interrupting or unjustified negative reviews. 31 percent reported sexual harassment.

"Gender-based violence is a systemic problem that affects scientific institutions no less than other parts of society," said Anke Lipinsky from the Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences.

According to the study, women were more often affected than men in almost all categories - except for physical violence, which was more frequently reported by men. According to the study, however, non-binary people are most at risk.

Non-binary or non-binary people have neither male nor female gender identity.

From January to May 2022, employees and students from 46 universities and research institutions in Germany and 14 other European countries were surveyed for the study.