Promoting a social equity approach to sexual harassment prevention across higher education: the Uni4Equity project

Sexual harassment (SH) is a pervasive form of gender-based violence that takes place in universities worldwide, undermining individual, community, and institutional integrity. SH occurs in-person and online, and it affects undergraduate, master's and doctoral students, and academic, administrative and service staff. Beyond its documented harm to health and well-being, SH also negatively influences professional and academic trajectories. Although formal institutional resources and mechanisms to prevent and combat SH exist, they remain limited and are not always effectively used. Most victims-survivors manage the situation on their own. Fear of retaliation and power imbalances affect not only victims-survivors, but also bystanders' actions. Universities must adopt equity-centered strategies that address structural causes, transform institutional cultures, reduce barriers to reporting and access to support, and protect vulnerable groups.