Harassment and victimisation

Actions that have a negative effect on an individual, which could exclude the person from the department/unit community or hamper the opportunity to carry out good work, can be harassment under the Discrimination Act or victimisation/bullying.

Harassment is conduct that violates a person's dignity and which is associated with any of the grounds for discrimination including gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, religion or other belief, disability, sexual orientation or age. Sexual harassment is unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that violates a person's dignity.

Recurring reprehensible or negative behaviour directed at a specific individual, but which is not sexual in nature or related to a discriminatory ground, may be victimisation/bullying.

It is the person who feels subjected to negative behaviour that determines what is offensive; nevertheless, sometimes that person must make clear that the behaviour is unwelcome or is perceived as offensive.

If a representative of the university learns that a student perceives to be a victim of any of the above, the circumstances must be investigated and actions taken to ensure the behaviour ceases immediately.

If someone acts towards you in a way you perceive as harassment or discrimination, we recommend you write down what happened, when and where, and talk about it with someone you trust. We then suggest you turn to the Director of Studies (for the Master's programme or the Post-graduate programme) or the Head of Department.

Remember that an employee who becomes aware of potential harassment or discrimination is obliged to report the matter to the Head of Department. In turn, the Head of Department is required to ensure that an investigation is started and to inform the university's Coordinator for Equal Treatment.

If you want to seek support and discuss what has happened before you decide on if you want an investigation to be made, you can begin by contacting the student union or Student Health Unit.

When a complaint of suspected harassment or discrimination is made:

  1. Individual talks will be held with those involved to determine what has happened
  2. The talks will be documented in writing
  3. The university's Coordinator for Equal Treatment will be informed
  4. If what have occurred may be considered victimisation/bullying, the circumstances will be investigated at the department
  5. If there is a need to clarify whether discrimination has occurred, the circumstances will be investigated by the university's Coodinator for Equal Treatment
  6. The Vice-Chancellor makes a decision in the discrimination matter
  7. The Head of Department will follow up the matter to ensure the behaviour has stopped
  8. If this is not the case, the university's Coordinator for Equal Treatment will be contacted for further actions.

The matter will be dealt with confidentially and promptly.

Contact information

Student Services
Coordinator for Equal Treatment
+46 (0)8 16 2559
jamlikhet@su.se

Student Union
Equal Opportunities Coordinator
likavillkor@sus.su.se

Last updated: 2025-10-28

Source: Department of Public Health Sciences

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