Time to Act: Institutional Pathways
to Ending Gender-Based Violence in Academia
Across Europe, a growing number of higher education and research organisations are redefining what safe and inclusive academic environments should look like. Yet gender-based violence continues to affect students, researchers, and staff, reminding us that change, while underway, must accelerate and become systemic.
The final conference of the GenderSAFE project is a call to action. Bringing together stakeholders from across the European Research Area, it creates a space to share experiences, spark ideas, and strengthen the collective resolve to prevent and address gender-based violence in higher education and research.
At the heart of the conference is a simple but powerful message: every institution must act. Whether at an early stage or already advancing comprehensive strategies, all higher education and research organisations have a role to play in driving change. Through inspiring keynote insights and dynamic panel discussions, participants will discover practices that work, hear from those who have led change in challenging contexts, and explore how to adapt these approaches to their own realities.
The programme will openly address the challenges institutions face, from resistance and limited resources to gaps in policy implementation, while highlighting practical ways to overcome them. It will also showcase tangible tools developed by GenderSAFE, including trainings and materials in multiple languages, a tool for institutions to self-assess their policy, and a model policy framework, co-designed with the project’s community of practice, to turn intention into action.
More than a moment of reflection, this conference is a catalyst for continued progress. By fostering dialogue, peer learning, and a shared sense of responsibility, it aims to empower participants to take concrete next steps – no matter how small – towards safer and more inclusive academic environments.
Programme
| 08:45 – 09:15 | Registration and welcome coffee |
| 09:15 – 09:40 |
Opening remarks
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| 09:40 – 10:00 | Keynote Address Eva-Maria Holzleitner, Austrian Federal Minister for Women, Science and Research |
| 10:00 – 10:20 |
Creative performance Tilke Wouters, Slam poet and journalist |
| 10:20 – 10:40 | Presentation of GenderSAFE’s key outcomes, including the Community of Practice |
| 10:40 – 11:00 | Coffee break |
| 11:00 – 12:30 |
Session 1: Inspiring Practices: What Works? A growing number of higher education and research institutions across Europe are moving from commitment to action, developing policies to address gender-based violence that increasingly focus on the needs of victims and survivors. But what does meaningful progress look like in practice? Are these policies transformative tools, or are they at risk of becoming symbolic commitments? While no single model can fit all institutional contexts, this session will showcase a range of inspiring practices that are ethically grounded, evidence-informed, and field-tested across diverse geographical, political, and organisational settings. By examining their strengths and innovation, what made them possible, and the challenges faced along the way, this panel aims to offer participants concrete ideas and transferable approaches to strengthen their own institutional policies.
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| 12:30 – 13:30 | Lunch break |
| 13:30 – 14:45 |
Session 2: From Policy to Trust: Victim-Centred and Trauma-Informed Approaches to Gender-Based Violence Institutional policies to address gender-based violence can only be effective if they are trusted, accessible, and safe for those seeking institutional help. Victim-centred and trauma-informed approaches therefore require institutions to look beyond formal procedures and consider how reporting, support, and case-handling processes are experienced by victims and survivors. This session will explore how higher education and research institutions are advancing these approaches in practice. Drawing on experiences from the GenderSAFE Community of Practice and beyond, speakers will discuss how policies and their implementation can safeguard survivor agency, reduce the risk of retraumatisation, and provide support that is sensitive to the impacts of trauma and promotes recovery. The panel will highlight practical lessons on designing robust institutional responses, including the importance of trained staff, confidentiality, fairness, accountability, and adequate resources.
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| 14:45 – 15:00 | Refreshment break |
| 15:00 – 16:15 |
Session 3: Even Small Steps Count Advancing towards a zero-tolerance approach to gender-based violence is an essential goal – but change does not always begin with large-scale reforms. Whatever their stage of advancement – from very early stages of awareness and policy development to fully institutionalised policies, institutions working alongside with GenderSAFE have experienced that even small, incremental actions can have a meaningful impact on the safety and well-being of staff and students. This session will highlight how initial efforts can build confidence, shift cultures, and lay the groundwork for more comprehensive change. It will also provide examples of how more advanced institutions saw positive change through the implementation of small amendments. Participants will be encouraged to recognise the value of progress at every stage and to identify achievable next steps within their own contexts. |
| 16:15 – 16:45 | Keynote Speech Sarah Philipson Isaac |
| 16:45 – 17:00 | Closing remarks |
| 17:00 – 18:30 | Farewell cocktail and networking |