Sciences Po promotes a culture of respect, courtesy and equality between people. SGBV has many highly detrimental consequences on the lives of its survivors and, as such, will not be tolerated at this institution.
With a system that prioritises listening to and supporting survivors, Sciences Po has implemented a university-wide policy ranging from preventive measures to sanctioning perpetrators.
Supporting survivors
In order to support survivors and witnesses of sexual and gender-based violence, Sciences Po has implemented a campus-wide mechanism for reporting incidents and providing help and guidance.
Free of charge and open to all members of Sciences Po’s communities (students, faculty, researchers and staff), this service consists of:
- The SGBV Specialist Nurses: the SGBV Specialist Nurses are based on every campus and provide a primary, confidential point of contact for survivors and witnesses. They can also offer information and advice.
- The listening and support service run by France Victimes: this confidential service is managed by professional staff external to Sciences Po. Based within a short distance of each campus, they provide an anonymous point of contact and can offer legal, psychological and social assistance.
- The institution’s SGBV Officer: the SGBV Officer receives reports and systematically refers them to the Preliminary Internal Investigation Unit (CEIP). He/she oversees the provision of support to survivors and informs them regarding the status of investigations into their report.
Sciences Po ensures that all students who have experienced an incident of SGBV receive support that is adapted to their situation specifically. This includes curriculum adjustments, social or financial assistance and psychological support.
Find out more about the support mechanism.
Sanctioning perpetrators of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence
Every report of SGBV systematically triggers an internal investigation led by a specialised body, the Preliminary Internal Investigation Unit (CEIP), chaired by a magistrate. The role of this independent unit is to determine the plausibility of the allegations, in strict adherence to the principles of the presumption of innocence and Audi alteram partem (the right to a fair hearing)
When the investigation is complete, the CEIP writes up a report and submits its recommendations to the president of Sciences Po. If its report confirms the allegations, the president refers the case to the relevant disciplinary body, who is solely responsible for issuing sanctions.
Find out more about the disciplinary procedure and sanctions.
Prevention: building a culture of equality
The SGBV Officer and SGBV Specialist Nurses organise and coordinate all of the institution’s SGBV prevention and awareness-raising campaigns. Together, they define a coherent training policy for all communities.
As part of a university-wide awareness strategy, all members of Sciences Po’s communities (students, faculty and staff) are required to complete a compulsory training course on consent and the sanctions imposable for SGBV.
To help prevent incidents of online harassment and cyber violence, Sciences Po’s Data Protection Officer (DPO) offers specific training for students with regards to best online practice and the risks surrounding social media.
Find out more
