Gender-based and Sexual Violence: A Research Survey Led by Université Paris Cité and Sciences Po

In 2024, more than 5,000 students from Université Paris Cité and Sciences Po participated in the SAFEDUC survey: the first survey conducted in these two higher education institutions on students' exposure to gender-based and sexual violence (GBSV).

The survey provides a better understanding of the contexts in which these violences occur and how the academic and personal trajectories of students can be impacted. Find out some of its key results.

Women, sexual minorities, and gender minorities most likely to report experiencing violence

It is primarily women who report having suffered from gender-based or sexual violence since the start of their higher education:

• More than half (57%) report having experienced sexual harassment since the beginning of their studies, compared to 30% of male students,
• Nearly one in three female students (32%) reports having suffered a physical or sexual assault (groping, sexual blackmail, etc.), compared to 18% of male students,
• One in ten female students (10%) reports having been raped or attempted to be raped, compared to 3% of male students.

Non-heterosexual individuals, whether gay, lesbian, or bisexual, are also more exposed to gender-based and sexual violence:

• Over a third of homosexual or bisexual respondents (37%) report having suffered a physical or sexual assault, compared to 23% of heterosexual individuals,
• 12% of homosexual or bisexual individuals report having been victims of rape or attempted rape, compared to 6% of heterosexual individuals.

Non-binary individuals also appear to be disproportionately exposed to violence during their student life, compared to men.

Violence mostly committed by men

The perpetrators of the reported gender-based and sexual violence are predominantly men. Students who reported having suffered a physical or sexual assault in the 12 months prior to the survey indicate that in more than 4 cases out of 5 (88%), the perpetrator was one or more men. Similarly, more than 9 out of 10 reported rape or attempted rape cases (93%) were committed by one or more men.

Violence mostly committed in private settings

Although the incidents of violence reported by students at Université Paris Cité and Sciences Po predominantly occurred in private settings, some acts of violence take place in professional or academic contexts:

• 10% of sexual harassment incidents that occurred in the past 12 months (harassment, stalking, etc.) took place in the context of employment, internship, or a research setting,
• 11% of physical or sexual assaults (groping, sexual coercion, etc.) occurred within the university.

Significant impact on victims' lives

Gender-based and sexual violence has a significant impact on the lives of victims. It affects their involvement in studies and their social life at university and outside. Violence involving a physical and sexual dimension, in particular, degrades the victims' romantic and sexual lives and also harms their health.

A survey to better understand and act

The SAFEDUC survey aims to gather data on the extent of sexist and sexual violence in higher eduction, in order to enable higher education institutions to implement effective institutional policies to prevent such violence. This survey has been designed to be replicated in other higher education and research institutions.