Commissioner for the Protection of Equality, Brankica Janković, held a training at the Rectorate of the University of Belgrade, for commissioners for equality who, in accordance with the Rulebook of the University, are responsible for the prevention and hindrance of sexual harassment of employees and students, as well as for suppressing any form of discrimination.

The Commissioner said that it is crucial that the Rulebook on Prevention and Protection from Sexual Harassment at the University of Belgrade was adopted and that commissioners were appointed at the faculties. She indicated that reporting illegal behavior is not easy and requires courage, especially when it occurs in environments with no balance of power or when the person reporting illegal behavior is in some form of dependent position. However, the fact that someone has power in no way gives that person the right to violate anyone’s physical or mental integrity and to use their position illegally.

Every successfully resolved case sends a message that sexual and any other gender-based harassment is prohibited and punishable, so we should not remain silent. The activities of commissioners at the faculty level and their timely response contribute to this goal and show the faculty’s seriousness and approach to combating such phenomena, Janković added.

She also presented several cases from the practice of the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality related to sexual and gender-based harassment in higher education institutions. Janković pointed out that reporting to the commissioners at the faculties does not prevent employees and students to file a complaint directly with the institution of the Commissioner, which she advised them to do if they suffer any form of gender-based harassment and discrimination.