Sexual harassment policy – UCM

The institution where I earned my last higher education degree, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, does include measures to contrast sexual harassment in its policy. UCM’s protocol for the prevention, detection and action against sexual and sexist harassment, and harassment based on sexual orientation, can be found online here: https://www.ucm.es/unidaddeigualdad/file/protocoloacosoucm (The document is in Spanish).

A good practice I observe in UCM’s policy is that it does not only contemplate sexual and sexist (gender-based) harassment, but it also seeks to prevent and address harassment based on gender identity and gender expression, as these are closely related to gender inequalities and discrimination.

I believe Annex I is also very useful, especially for those who do not have a background in feminism or gender studies, as it provides definitions of the different types of harassments contemplated in the protocol. This document, which has been largely disseminated (online and offline) among students and faculty, is a great educational tool not just for victims of harassment but for everyone to be aware of what harassment entails, since often the problem has to do with a lack of education and knowledge on the matter (which should be the institution’s responsibility).