(Vienna, 25-11-2024) Every year between 25 November and 10 December, actions against violence against women are held worldwide as part of the UN ‘Orange the World’ campaign. University Hospital Vienna and MedUni Vienna are once again taking part in the international campaign in 2024. During the 16 days against violence against women, measures for a non-discriminatory and respectful environment will be discussed on the various channels of the two institutions. In the interdisciplinary lecture series ‘One in Five’, experts will shed light on various forms of violence experienced by women in institutions and relationships. The main entrances to the Rectorate building of MedUni Vienna and University Hospital Vienna will also be illuminated in the campaign colour orange again this year.
‘Estimates suggest that around 300,000 women in Austria are affected by violence from their partner or ex-partner,’ says Andrea Berzlanovich from MedUni Vienna's Center for Forensic Medicine. On her initiative, the interdisciplinary lecture series ‘One in Five’ is held annually to teach how violence can be recognised, addressed and documented. This year, the cooperation with the Association of Autonomous Austrian Women's Shelters (AÖF) and the Austrian Ombudsman Board is focussing on ‘Step by step out of violence’. Health professionals, the Austrian Ombudsman Board and staff from anti-violence advice centers will present various prevention and intervention measures.
Sexual harassment can occur not only at home, but also in the workplace and at university. In order to promote a safe and respectful environment, the Discrimination Reporting Centre was set up at MedUni Vienna this year. It offers employees and students a central point of contact to report cases of discrimination, sexual harassment, sexualised violence or bullying and to receive support. The service is free of charge, anonymous and confidential. Each report is examined individually. Possible measures are always agreed with the person concerned.
MedUni Vienna employees and students also have the opportunity to take part in the online lecture ‘Why didn't you say no?’ on 26 November as part of the campaign. In this mix of lecture and workshop, social psychologist Franziska Saxler will present her #metooscience network, among other things. She will provide insights into research findings on the prevalence, psychological mechanisms and perpetuating factors of harassment in the academic system. Participants will learn how to recognise harassment more quickly so that they can protect themselves better and intervene as allies in the right places.
Hospitals are often the first point of contact for women who have experienced violence and play a central role in victim protection when injuries are not only treated, but also addressed and documented. University Hospital Vienna was one of the first hospitals in Austria to set up its own victim protection group at the end of 2010. The team raises awareness of the issue of violence in the outpatient departments and wards and provides support when injuries due to violence are recognised in patients. There is also a point of contact for younger patients: the child protection group at University Hospital Vienna has the task of providing counselling and documentation in cases of suspected abuse, neglect or sexual violence against children and raising staff awareness of the issue.
During the campaign period, experts will be presenting some of the projects in more detail on the social media channels of MedUni Vienna and University Hospital Vienna.
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After activation, data will be sent to YouTube. Further information here: Data protection