Tackling violence and discrimination

The University of Strasbourg is committed to creating a safe and supportive environment for the entire university community. If you are a victim or witness of gender-based, sexual, homophobic or transphobic violence, speak out. You are not alone – help is available.

Understanding violence and discrimination

What the law says

“No one should be subjected to sexist behaviour, meaning any conduct related to a person’s sex that has the purpose or effect of violating their dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment.” (Article L. 1142-2-1 of the French Labour Code)

Article R.625-8-3 of the French Criminal Code also prohibits any sexual or sexist statement or behaviour that undermines a person’s dignity because of its degrading or humiliating nature, or that creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive situation.

In short

Gender-based violence refers to situations where a person intimidates, belittles or humiliates another person through words or actions because of their sex or gender. In France, it is prohibited and punishable by law.

What the law says

The French Criminal Code defines several offences related to sexual violence, including:

Voyeurism (Article 226-3-1 of the French Criminal Code)
Exhibitionism (Article 222-32 of the French Criminal Code)
Revenge porn (Article 226-1 of the French Criminal Code)
Sexual assault (Article 222-22 of the French Criminal Code)
Rape (Article 222-23 of the French Criminal Code)

In short

Sexual violence refers to any sexual act imposed on a person without their consent. In France, sexual violence is prohibited and punishable by law.

What the law says

“Sexual harassment is the act of repeatedly subjecting a person to sexual or sexist comments or behaviour, which either undermines their dignity because of its degrading or humiliating nature, or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive situation. Sexual harassment also includes, even where not repeated, any form of serious pressure with the real or apparent aim of obtaining an act of a sexual nature, whether for the benefit of the perpetrator or a third party.” (Article 222-23 of the French Criminal Code).

In short

Sexual harassment occurs when a person repeatedly subjects another person to unwanted sexual comments or behaviour. Even a single instance of serious pressure may be considered sexual harassment. In France, sexual harassment is prohibited and punishable by law.

What the law says

Homophobic remarks or behaviour are prohibited and punishable by law when they have “the purpose or effect of violating a person’s dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment” (Article 1 of the law of 27 May 2008 on various provisions adapting French law to EU law in the field of combating discrimination).

In short

Homophobia refers to intimidating, humiliating or mistreating someone because of their sexual orientation, including same-sex attraction. In France, homophobia is prohibited and punishable by law.

What the law says

Transphobic comments or behaviour are prohibited and punishable by law when they have "the purpose or effect of violating a person's dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment." (Article 1 of the law of 27 May 2008 on various provisions adapting French law to EU law in the field of combating discrimination)

In short

Transphobia refers to intimidating, humiliating or mistreating someone because of their gender identity. In France, transphobia is prohibited and punishable by law.

What the law says

“Direct discrimination occurs when a person is treated less favourably than another person in a comparable situation because of their origin, sex, family situation or marital status, pregnancy, physical appearance, financial situation (whether apparent or known to the perpetrator), surname, place of residence, health, loss of autonomy, disability, genetic characteristics, lifestyle, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, political opinions, trade union activities, ability to speak a language other than French, or their actual or perceived belonging to an ethnic group, nation, race or religion.” (Article 1 of the law of 27 May 2008 on various provisions adapting French law to EU law in the field of combating discrimination).

In short

Discrimination occurs when a person is treated less favourably than others based on one of the grounds of discrimination recognised by law. There are 25 recognised grounds of discrimination.

Support for victims and witnesses

The University of Strasbourg takes a clear stand against all forms of violence and discrimination and is committed to supporting everyone in its community, including students, researchers and staff. If you experience or witness violence or discrimination, you are not alone – help is available.

A listening and support service offers prompt and professional support. You can contact the team by email at violences-sexistes@unistra.fr, and they will respond within 48 hours (on business days).

This service is strictly confidential. It can help you understand and talk about your experiences and can also support you if you decide to inform the university or take legal action in France.

Meet the Listening and Support Team

No appointment needed on Mondays from 9:00 to 12:00 and from 14:00 to 17:00
Appointment required for other weekdays. To book an appointment, contact violences-sexistes@unistra.fr
Location: Villa Benecke, 43 rue Goethe, 67000 Strasbourg, first floor, first office on the left at the top of the stairs

Additional support within the university

If you are experiencing psychological or emotional abuse, contact violences-psychologiques@unistra.fr
If you are a victim or witness of racism or antisemitism, contact the Racism and Antisemitism Officer
If you are a victim or witness of behaviour that does not respect the principle of secularism (laïcité), contact the Secularism Officer
If you are a student, contact the Student Health Office (Service de santé étudiante – SSE) and the University of Strasbourg Medical and Psychological Support Centre (Centre d'accueil médico-psychologique universitaire de Strasbourg – CAMUS)
If you are a member of staff, visit the Occupational Health Office space on the intranet (Ernest)

Support outside the university

You can contact:

SOS France Victimes 67 by phone on +33 3 88 79 79 30, by email at secretariat@sosfrancevictime s67.org or visit their website. The organisation also runs a drop-in service for students and staff every Tuesday at the Maison de proximité de l’Esplanade, 6 cour de Cambridge, 67000 Strasbourg. It is accredited by the French Ministry of Justice and works in partnership with the University of Strasbourg
3919, the national helpline for women experiencing violence. This free and anonymous number is available 24/7 from mobile or landline and is accessible to people who are deaf and hard-of-hearing
The Centre régional des œuvres universitaires et scolaires (Crous) by phone on +33 3 88 21 28 48, by email at secretariat.social@crous-strasbourg.fr or visit their website
The Coordination nationale d'accompagnement des étudiantes et des étudiants (Cnaé) via their website
The Centre d'informations aux droits des femmes et des familles (CIDFF) by phone on +33 3 88 32 03 22, by email at strasbourg@cidff67.fr or visit their website
Planning familial by phone on +33 3 88 32 28 28 (Strasbourg) or +33 3 88 33 09 15 (Bischheim), by email at mfpf67@wanadoo.fr or visit their website

Online resources

You can visit:

The Association européenne contre les Violences faites aux Femmes au Travail (AVFT) website for advice, including guidance on collecting evidence when filing a complaint
The Clasches website, a feminist association working to combat sexual harassment in higher education. Clasches is open to students, PhD students, researchers and university staff. It provides tools to help victims and witnesses speak out, respond, defend themselves and take action
The French government platform Arrêtons les violences, which allows you to report domestic, sexual or gender-based violence online

How does the university support victims?

After meeting with the Listening and Support Team, a person may choose to inform the university of their situation. The university can then open an administrative case file, gather the relevant information in order to carry out an internal investigation and determine appropriate measures. The victim’s identity remains confidential at this stage.

Depending on the situation, the university's Senior Leadership Team may refer the case to the Disciplinary Section of the Academic Council. Protective measures can also be put in place from the start of the process to limit contact between the victim and the person accused. The Listening and Support Team stays in contact with the victim and provides support throughout the process.

The Listening and Support Team remains in contact with the victim and provides support throughout this period.

What happens if someone is reported?

When a situation is brought to the university’s attention, the Senior Leadership Team contacts the person accused by letter and may offer a meeting. This meeting takes place as part of the university’s procedure for addressing violence and discrimination and does not involve the Listening and Support Team.

The university’s procedures are designed to ensure that victims and witnesses can speak safely and also to guarantee the rights of the person accused, so that everyone involved is treated fairly.

Contact the university's Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Task Force

Committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, the University of Strasbourg has established a dedicated Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Task Force (Mission égalité et diversité), led by a Vice-President. Its role is to coordinate prevention and awareness initiatives, combat violence and discrimination, and promote equality across the university community. It also regularly monitors equality and inclusion across the university and recommends measures to help ensure a respectful, inclusive and supportive environment for everyone.

Open to the entire university community, you can contact the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Task Force by email at egalite-parite@unistra.fr.

Go to the "Equality, diversity and inclusion" web page

Contact the Listening and Support Team

signalement@unistra.fr

Useful resources

Legal texts and references

Je suis alerté-e, que faire ? (PDF)
Présentation du dispositif de l'Université de Strasbourg contre les violences sexistes, sexuelles et homophobes (PDF)
Clashes brochure – Le harcèlement sexuel dans l'enseignement supérieur et la recherche (PDF)
Le harcèlement sexuel dans l'enseignement supérieur et la recherche, vade-mecum à l'usage des établissements (PDF)

Understanding violence and discrimination

What is gender-based violence?

What the law says

In short

What is sexual violence?

What the law says

In short

What is sexual harassment?

What the law says

In short

What is homophobia?

What the law says

In short

What is transphobia?

What the law says

In short

What is discrimination?

What the law says

In short

Support for victims and witnesses

Meet the Listening and Support Team

Additional support within the university

Support outside the university

Online resources

How does the university support victims?

What happens if someone is reported?

Contact the university's Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Task Force

Contact the Listening and Support Team

Useful resources

Legal texts and references

More information