“Standing Up against Sexualized Violence”
Series of events at Freie Universität Berlin in honor of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women from November 21–29, 2023
№ 266/2023 from Nov 13, 2023
In honor of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and as part of Freie Universität Berlin’s commitment to take a stand against sexualized violence, the university is organizing a series of events and informational posts on the topics of sexualized harassment, discrimination, and violence from November 21–29, 2023. The series of events is organized by the chief gender equality office at Freie Universität Berlin. The events program aims to raise awareness of the various forms that gender-based violence can take, as well as to encourage people to take a stand against these forms of violence. While the events are generally open to all, some individual events are designed for specific target audiences. In order to be able to offer workshops and safe spaces tailored to specific groups, please only sign up for events if you are a member of the intended target group. You can find more information, as well as an overview of the program, at https://www.fu-berlin.de/en/sites/nein-heisst-nein/Anti-Gewalt-Aktionstage/Aktionstage-2023/index.html
In honor of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, Freie Universität Berlin is organizing a series of events and informational posts on the topics of sexualized harassment, discrimination, and violence.
Image Credit: MvBZ
Two highlights of the program include the forum on November 28, featuring short presentations from experts on sexualized harassment, discrimination, and violence at universities, and the theater performance “MARTA” on November 29 that discusses the taboo topics of gender violence and femicide followed by an in-depth discussion with the actors.
The events program will include workshops that address subjects such as online gender-based violence, respectful flirting, and critical masculinity. Self-defense and Wen-Do courses will be offered as well as a workshop on “Constructions of Gender and Bodies – Feminist Theater of the Oppressed” and a theater performance about gender-based violence and femicide. There will also be safe spaces for people who are dealing with sexualized assault and violations of boundaries to talk confidentially. The event “Conversations about Sexualized Harassment, Discrimination, and Violence at the University” will broach the issue of how universities approach cases of sexualized harassment, discrimination, and violence, as well as the prevention and protection measures they adopt.
International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
Freie Universität Berlin has participated in the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women – a global campaign that takes a stand against gender-based violence – every year since 2019. In 1999, the United Nations passed a resolution designating November 25 the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. The official call for a day of action can be traced back to the kidnapping, rape, torture, and murder of the three Mirabal sisters by the Dominican Republic’s military intelligence service in 1960. Women’s rights activists from Latin America and the Caribbean drew attention to this particular tragedy in order to establish a day against gender-based violence in 1981. Ever since, women’s rights and human rights organizations have continued to observe the day, each year calling for an end to the pervasive problem of violence against women.
Further Information
More information on the “Standing Up against Sexualized Violence” campaign, the program, and how to sign up:
https://www.fu-berlin.de/en/sites/nein-heisst-nein/Anti-Gewalt-Aktionstage/Aktionstage-2023/index.html
Contact
Wendy Stollberg, Email: november25@campus.fu-berlin.de