Sexualized discrimination

“Sexual harassment is discrimination that can be exercised in many different ways. It can be verbal, non-verbal or consist of physical attacks. All behaviours and actions are considered sexual discrimination and violence that are offensive, humiliating, unwanted by the person concerned and if they experience these behaviours and actions as degrading and intimidating (AGG §3(4)). Sexual discrimination and violence have nothing to do with sexuality. Instead, they are about power: The pleasure lies in humiliating the victim and in exercising power over those who are dependent on the perpetrator. Sexual discrimination and violence can be perceived differently by different individuals. The topic is always related to self-doubt, feelings of guilt and deeply felt shame. Many people keep quiet because they are afraid of endangering their professional career, for example. Very few people can immediately identify what is happening to them, and instead they try to figure out what they did wrong.”
(Source: Online handout “Sexualisierte Gewalt und Diskriminierung an Hochschulen” (Sexualised Violence and Discrimination at Higher Education Institutions) from the Bundeskonferenz der Frauen- und Gleichstellungsbeauftragten an Hochschulen e.V.)

Sexual discrimination and violence can occur in different forms and to different extents, for example as sexually suggestive remarks, stalking, bullying, sexual harassment, sexual assault or even rape. Regardless of the form it takes, sexualised violence is never legitimate and the law protects people from it and includes legal measures that can be taken against perpetrators.

Sexualised discrimination and violence can take place in various contexts, both in private and professional life. It can be directed specifically against women or men, trans*, inter* and non-binary individuals, people with a non-heterosexual identity or children and adolescents. It can also intersect with other forms of discrimination, such as racism or anti-Semitism.

Protect yourself and others. If you or someone else has experienced sexualised violence, please seek support and assistance.

The Violence against Women Helpline run by the Federal Office for Family and Civil Society Tasks can be reached round the clock, 365 days a year and free of charge. You can also get advice via chat, email, in sign language and in many foreign languages.
08 00 01 16 01 6

The national organisation Weisser Ring offers free and anonymous advising with its Victim Hotline 116 006 that can be reached every day of the week.

Certain clinics in Hesse participate in the Immediate Aid after Rape model that offers confidential medical assistance and care after rape even if the person has not yet filed a police report and, if requested, with evidence collection. You can find a list of participating clinics here.

The OEG Trauma Network for victim assistance and immediate victim aid offers services as described in the Victims Compensation Act (Opferentschädigungsgesetz, OEG). 

On its advising site, the police offers information for victims of sexual assault and rape, domestic violence, sexual abuse of children and adolescents and sexual harassment in the workplace.
You can find the contact person for victim protection with the Hessian Police here.

The Sexual Abuse Helpline and the “Anrufen hilft!” (Calling helps) initiative are services provided by the independent officers for issues related to sexual abuse of children.

Online database for those affected by crimes (ODABS) 
Information on counselling and assistance services by region

The Working Group for Victim Assistance (Arbeitskreis der Opferhilfen, ado) is a consortium of various professional victim assistance organisations in Germany.

Wildwasser Darmstadt e. V. is an expert advisory service against sexualised violence for girls, women and those who support them.

pro familia offers advising and information on other issues related to sexuality, pregnancy and partnership, as well, and has an advisory office in Darmstadt.

Confidential advising and birth
A service provided by the Federal Ministry for Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth with advising by telephone, online and in person.

The Information Centre for Men’s Issues (Informationszentrum für Männerfragen e. V.) in Frankfurt offers advisory services both for men who have been the victim of violence and for men who have become violent themselves.

“The AGG expressly prohibits sexual harassment in the workplace.
The Act describes sexual harassment as unwanted conduct of a sexual nature that violates the dignity of the person concerned. Examples of actions that are specifically prohibited include:

• Unwanted sexual acts such as a colleague or customer seeking unwanted physical closeness with you
• Requests for unwanted sexual acts such as ‘Sit on my lap!’
• Sexually suggestive physical contact, including (seemingly accidental) touching of the chest or buttocks or unwanted neck massages
• Remarks of a sexual nature, such as obscene jokes or sexual innuendo
• Unwanted display and visible posting of pornographic images, such as pornographic magazines on the desk or nude photos on the walls

If you have experienced this, then you have been sexually harassed and have the right to defend yourself against it. The AGG protects everyone from sexual harassment in the workplace!”
(Source: Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency (2019): Grenzen setzen. Was tun bei sexueller Belästigung am Arbeitsplatz? p. 3; the brochure is also available in easy-to-read German: Grenzen setzen - was kann ich bei sexueller Belästigung am Arbeits-Platz machen?)

The Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency (ADS) offers advisory services for all cases of discrimination covered by the AGG. 

What to do in case of sexual harassment in the workplace
Guidelines for employees, employers and works councils

Dealing with sexual harassment in the workplace – strategies for solutions and intervention measures
A summary is also available of the study results by Dr. Monika Schröttle, Ksenia Meshkova and Clara Lehman published by the Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency.

Sexualised discrimination and violence at higher education institutions
This position paper on Sexualised Violence and Discrimination at Higher Education Institutions was published by the Bundeskonferenz der Frauen- und Gleichstellungsbeauftragten an Hochschulen e.V. in 2016. Their recommendations for artistic higher education institutions can be found here.

Equal Rights – against gender-based discrimination
Report from the Expert Commission of the Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency (ADS) with information and recommendations for action including on the topic of sexual harassment in working life and vocational training.

The Bildungsstätte Anne Frank offers advisory services with its response facility. People in Hesse who are affected by right-wing, racist or anti-Semitic violence as well as their family, friends and witnesses to an attack. The advisory office defines violence as insults and verbal abuse, stigmatization, threats, physical assault, property damage and other experiences that are perceived as violent.
It is also responsible for Hessenschauthin.de, a portal in which anyone can report right-wing and racist insults, marginalisation or violence free of charge and anonymously if they experienced it themselves or witnessed it.

The Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection has published the following, among other documents:
Merkblatt für Opfer einer Straftat (Handout for victims of a crime) 
Psychosocial Support in Criminal Trials
Opferfibel. Rechte von Verletzten und Geschädigten in Strafverfahren (Victim’s primer. Rights of victims and injured parties in criminal proceedings)
Ich habe Rechte. Ein Wegweiser durch das Strafverfahren für jugendliche Zeuginnen und Zeugen (I have rights. A guide to criminal proceedings for adolescent witnesses)

The Hessian Network against Violence (Netzwerk gegen Gewalt Hessen) offers projects including Violence – See it – Help (Gewalt – Sehen – Helfen) with a focus on media competence. An overview of regional violence prevention projects and measures have been compiled in the Prevention Atlas.

Dissens – Institute for Education and Research (Dissens – Institut für Bildung und Forschung e.V.) concentrates on uncovering and preventing sexualised violence against mal children and adolescents. Dissens’ not only carries out research in this area but also offers continuing education courses and has published documents such as the brochure Sexualisierte Gewalt. Männliche* Betroffene unterstützen! Mythen, Fakten, Handlungsmöglichkeiten (Sexualised violence. Support male* victims! Myths, facts, possibilities for taking action).

Centre for Criminology (KrimZ)
Research and documentation centre funded by the German national and state governments

Research network for sexualised discrimination and violence against children and adolescents in pedagogical contexts

Contra.Punkt counsels people who solve conflicts in relationships with mental, physical or sexual violence. Here you can find the Darmstadt-Bensheim office at pro familia.

The State Coordination Office against Domestic Violence, funded by the Hessian Ministry of Justice, has compiled the Wegweiser für die Beratung von Männern mit Gewaltproblemen (Assistance for advising men who have problems with violence). This resource lists contact points and counselling options in Hesse for men who struggle with violent behaviour. These organisations work directly with perpetrators, and men seeking help can either reach out themselves or be referred by others.

The Information Centre for Men’s Issues (Informationszentrum für Männerfragen e. V.) in Frankfurt offers advisory services both for men who have been the victim of violence and for men who have become violent themselves.

The Don’t Become a Perpetrator (Kein Täter werden) network offers free and confidential therapy across Germany for individuals who are sexually attracted to children and are seeking help to address their feelings.