This high-level conference will address the persistent and damaging problem of gender-based violence in academia, including sexual harassment. Existing studies and policy documents identify the need for policy coordination in this area as well as building infrastructures to address the issue. Gender-based violence is one of the five recommended thematic areas of Gender Equality Plans under the Horizon Europe eligibility criterion, and is also one of the areas addressed in the Ljubljana Declaration on Gender Equality in Research and Innovation, focusing on the need for additional policy coordination and action.

The conference will bring together representatives of national authorities, Research Funding Organisations, Research Performing Organisations, student organisations and other relevant stakeholders in the European Research Area, to advance the debate on the actions needed to improve the protection of students and staff, with a focus on mobile students and researchers particularly in the early-career stages, from all forms of violence in academic settings.