Sexualized discrimination begins where personal boundaries are not respected. It can be exercised psychologically, physically or verbally with words, gestures, facial expressions or actions and is used to practice and exploit power and dominance. As a person affected, it is not always easy to directly name sexualized discrimination.

The following examples from bukof and counselling practice can give a guide as to whether what has been experienced is sexual discrimination:

• Obscene and humiliating remarks (jokes, facial expressions or gestures)
• Insistent or appraising glances
• Whistling („Cat Calling“)
• Lewd remarks and indiscreet questioning about body, lifestyle and/or love life
• Inappropriate compliments and gifts
• Unprofessional and inappropriate behaviour such as invitations to the private residence to discuss examination results
• Proposals and unwanted solicitations involving promises of benefits or threats of detriment
• Displaying and distributing pornographic material or material of a sexual content
• Unwanted intimacy and touching
• Stalking (in person and/or digitally)
• Unwanted solicitation or forcing of sexual favours or acts
• Exposure or undressing without mutual consent
• Physical assault or (attempted) rape

Take your feelings seriously. Make it clear to the person that you feel sexually harassed. If the person harassing you does not respond appropriately, complain to your supervisor - or the next person above - and ask for help or action. If this is not possible, contact the university's counselling and complaints services. The facilities are trained and operate under strict confidentiality.

The Central Gender Equality Officer advises all members of the University on issues of gender equality, gender discrimination and sexualized discrimination.

You can find more information about our counselling here.
Also inform yourself, for example, by reading the guide "What to do in case of discrimination".

There are different ways to support people who are affected by sexualized discrimination:

• If you observe harassment or are told about incidents, take the issue seriously!
• Confidentiality is particularly important. Nothing should be done without the consent of the person concerned.
• Remain alert to harassing behaviour and offer help if there are signs of sexual harassment.
• Intervene if you recognise a direct incident or support the person concerned if they defend themselves.
• Offer to accompany the harassed person if they seek advice.
• If necessary, be available as a witness.
• If necessary, point out the university's contact persons.
• Inform yourself by using the guide "Initial interviews in cases of discrimination - guidelines for contact persons".

If you are acutely affected by violence or observe a threat, you can contact the threat management.

Examples of an acute threat can be:
Physical, verbal or written violence, threats of violence, bringing and showing weapons, expressing fantasies of violence, sexual assault, attempting suicide, stalking and bullying.

Threat management
+49 221 470-8899
bm-team@verw.uni-koeln.de

If there is an acute danger, immediately alert the police (110) and/or the internal emergency number +49 221 470-2200 (facility management in the main building).

The Central Gender Equality Officer advises all members and affiliates of the University on issues of gender equality, gender discrimination and  sexualized discrimination.

Further counselling, contact and complaint centres on the subject of discrimination, sexualised violence and bullying can be found on the Diversity portal. The facilities are trained and work under strict confidentiality.

Here you can find counselling and contact points in cases of discrimination.

If you wish to make a formal complaint on the grounds of discrimination in order to initiate a legal review against a person at the University of Cologne, you can contact the university's complaints offices (Suggestions and Complaints Office for students, AGG complaints office for employees).

If you are unsure who to contact or how to proceed, the Gender Equality Officer or her deputies offer initial and referral counselling.

The following graphics show how you can proceed to ged support and what the procedure for a complaint in case of discrimination looks like.

If you prefer to seek counselling outside the university (at first), you can do so here, for example:

• Hilfetelefon „Gewalt gegen Frauen“ und Hilfetelefon „Gewalt an Männern“
• Frauenberatungsstelle FrauenLeben e.V. Köln
• Weisser Ring Köln e.V.
• Rubicon – Diskriminierungsberatung für queere Personen
• Agisra – Informations- und Beratungsstelle für Migrantinnen*, geflüchtete Frauen* und schwarze Frauen*
• Hilfeportal Sexueller Missbrauch
• Heimwegtelefon