Gender-based violence statement

The University of Dundee actively opposes and works to eliminate gender-based violence in all its forms.

Gender-based violence affects many people throughout society and we see our role as working alongside Dundee University Students’ Association, educational institutions, and city-wide organisations to contribute to eradicating gender-based violence. We also seek to ensure staff and students are supported and that the University is a safe place to work and study. Our Dignity at Work and Study Policy as well as Discipline Procedures covers some of the measures we have put in place to deal with gender-based violence at the University of Dundee.

Gender-based violence takes different forms including (but not exclusively): domestic abuse, rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment, stalking, digital abuse, dowry-related violence, female genital mutilation and forced marriage. The University of Dundee, for the purposes of its work on gender-based violence, has adopted the Scottish Government’s explanation and acknowledges that: 

• gender-based violence is a function of gender inequality.
• it can take many forms including physical, sexual and psychological harm.
• it can happen to anyone but disproportionately affects women and children.

The University also acknowledges that some people can experience additional discrimination including, for example, those who have experienced gender-based violence and who are disabled, from ethnic minorities , or from the LGBT+ community. Our Equality and Diversity Policy outlines our commitment to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion among staff and students to ensure that individuals realise their full potential. Our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion also involves the University promoting gender equality and in working proactively towards eliminating discrimination on the basis of sex and gender.

We ask everyone in our university community to uphold our values by contributing to a supportive environment for those who have been affected by gender-based violence as well as raising awareness of the impact of gender-based violence. Working together as a community will not only help the University to advance its values but it will also contribute to wider campaigns which aim to eradicate gender-based violence in society. Together we can end gender-based violence.

Getting Support for GBV

If anyone at the University of Dundee has experienced gender-based violence, recently or in the past, we strongly encourage you to seek support. Our support page for students and staff experiencing GBV has an extensive list of internal and national services, as well as details on how to report any form of gender-based violence. 

The University is committed to supporting you with whatever course of action you decide to take; we will not tell you what to do and we will not pressure you to make decisions. We will respect you, take your concerns seriously, and we will offer non-judgemental support. 

How the University will work with someone reporting GBV

In seeking support, your personal details, including things like your sexual orientation, gender identity, faith, ethnicity, and employment (including engagement in sex work), will not be shared with any other person (including your emergency contact) outside the small group of staff that respond to reports without your consent, nor will that information be disclosed as part of any University investigations or disciplinary proceedings related to your report without your consent.

In cases of sexual assault or gender-based violence, disciplinary processes will not typically be pursued if you disclose things such as your drug or alcohol consumption within your report. Exceptions to this are where we consider there are serious risks of harm to you or to other people, and cases relating to fitness to practise, professional standards or conditions set by regulatory bodies.

The University will never ask you to sign a document, or statement, that means you cannot discuss what has happened to you with anyone else. These documents, often called NDAs (Non-disclosure agreements) are not part of the University approach to managing cases and we are signatories to a sector wide commitment in Scotland not to use them - Confidentiality clauses in Scottish higher education — Universities Scotland.