New Counseling Center for Protection Against Discrimination and Sexualized Violence
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The Central Counseling Center for Protection against Discrimination and Sexualized Violence (Zentrale Beratungsstelle zum Schutz vor Diskriminierung und vor sexualisierter Gewalt, SchuDS) commenced its work. Kaya Gödeke (she/her) and Nicole Jansen (she/her) are available as contact persons to all individuals at TU Dortmund University who are affected by discrimination and/or sexualized violence or have observed it. At the same time, they aim to raise awareness for these topics and engage in prevention work.
The SchuDS is located within the Staff Unit Equal Opportunities, Family and Diversity and serves as a point of contact for those affected. Consultations are offered free of charge and, upon request, can be conducted anonymously, in English, or in simple language. Individuals with questions or seeking information can also reach out to Kaya Gödeke and Nicole Jansen.
Counsel, sanction and sensitize
As a place of public education, research and work, TU Dortmund University is committed to creating a supportive and motivating working environment with equal opportunities for students and employees, while preventing discrimination, abuse of power, harassment and sexualized violence. “Upon the request of the person seeking counseling, the university will pursue these cases intensively and relentlessly and sanction these cases appropriately within the framework of legal and factual possibilities,” explains Kaya Gödeke.
“In addition, as SchuDS, we want to sensitize the university public and sharpen awareness and attention to discrimination and sexualized violence, through preventive counseling, campaigns and workshops, among other things,” says Nicole Jansen. As part of in-house further education, the two colleagues offer three events in which they will examine and reveal the power of language and demonstrate how discrimination-free communication can be achieved.
“As a university, it is our concern to promote a discrimination-free environment and a culture of diversity. I would like to motivate all individuals at TU Dortmund University to contact the counseling center if necessary,” says Prof. Petra Wiederkehr, Vice President Diversity.
Funded by the State of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW)
Already in 2022, TU Dortmund University had adopted a Guideline for Protection against Discrimination and Sexualized Violence (German only), aiming to proactively promote anti-discrimination efforts. The establishment of a counseling center was already stipulated in the guideline. Last year, the university successfully raised funds from the state of NRW for this purpose. The SchuDS is currently one of only a few central counseling centers of this kind at universities nationwide.
Office hours:
Kaya Gödeke and Nicole Jansen can be reached on Tuesdays to Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. via email, phone, and in person in Room E 24 at Emil-Figge-Str. 66. Appointments outside of office hours are possible by arrangement.
Contact: