From the perspective of our association, it is crucial that every member feels safe and accepted. Everyone has the right to both physical and mental integrity, and we strive to promote this as best we can, including through the actions mentioned in our equality plan. The purpose of these UDK Anti-Harassment Guidelines is to provide guidance on how to act in potential harassment situations.
What is harassment?
In the UDK equality plan, harassment is defined as behavior that includes all forms of belittling, threatening, isolating, humiliating, and violating someone’s bodily or mental integrity. Harassment also encompasses any form or level of discrimination and the violation of equality. Sexual harassment refers to verbal, non-verbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature that is unwanted and violates a person's mental or physical integrity, for example, by creating a coercive, hostile, degrading, or humiliating environment.
What to do if you feel harassed?
If you experience harassment during a UDK event or by a UDK member outside the association’s events:
- Report the harassment as soon as possible to the UDK harassment contact person, event organizer, a member of the advocacy team or UDK board.
- You can also report harassment afterwards using the harassment form (http://www.udk.fi/yhdistys/lomakepankki/hairintalomake/), which is recommended to fill out in writing in all cases.
Harassment Form:
- Describe the situation as clearly as possible.
- Include at least what happened, when it occurred, and who was involved.
- You may also provide your contact information, which is especially advisable in cases involving a specific individual. Providing contact information allows for better addressing the situation and facilitates handling of it.
- Messages sent via the harassment form will go directly to the UDK board’s equality official, who will handle the situation confidentially with the parties involved. The reporter has the right to remain anonymous at all stages of the process if they wish.
- If necessary, the situation can also be discussed with TREY’s harassment contacts, and anyone experiencing harassment has the option to contact TREY’s harassment contacts directly (hairinta@trey.fi or hairintamies@trey.fi / hairintanainen@trey.fi).
If you experience harassment at student events that are not organized by UDK, please primarily contact the event organizers or TREY’s harassment contacts. If you’re unsure whom to contact, you can also reach out to the UDK harassment contact.
If the harassment you experience is particularly serious or illegal (such as sexual abuse), contact the police immediately.
What to do if you witness harassment against others?
For effective resolution of harassment situations, it is preferable that the person who experienced the harassment contacts the harassment contact themselves. However, if you notice someone else being harassed, you can guide them to contact the UDK harassment contact, the advocacy team, or TREY’s harassment contacts. You can also report the situation through the harassment form to the equality official if you don’t feel comfortable discussing it with the affected person. In cases where the harassment is directed at someone other than yourself, discretion should be exercised regarding the identity of the affected individual. Therefore, if the form (or other contact method) mentions the name of the affected person, this should also have that person's permission. If you believe the harassment is particularly serious or illegal, it is better to disclose the affected person's identity without permission than to leave the matter unreported.
UDK Board and Harassment
The UDK board takes all forms of harassment seriously. There is a strict zero-tolerance policy for harassment at UDK events. The UDK board appoints an equality official for the operational period, who also serves as the harassment contact. The tutor organizers ensure that the equality officer introduces themselves to new students early in the fall. This ensures that new students immediately know whom to contact and how to act if they encounter harassment. New students are also informed about the equality plan and the harassment policy as early as possible. If you feel that a board member has behaved inappropriately, do not hesitate to reach out. The harassment contact will handle the case fairly, regardless of the harasser's identity. If you feel that the UDK harassment contact has behaved inappropriately, report this to another UDK advocate or directly to TREY’s harassment contacts.
How to discipline a harasser?
The handling of a harassment case does not depend on who the perpetrator or victim is, but rather on factors such as the severity, extent, and recurrence of the behavior. Once a case is brought to the harassment contact, they will reach out to the accused harasser, with the consent of the person who experienced harassment. This is done to hear their side of the story, ensuring that no one is unjustly judged. If the accounts of the situation significantly differ and there are no witnesses, contact may be made with TREY’s harassment contacts or relevant authorities to resolve the matter.
The accused harasser is not punished if the harassment accusation is deemed unfounded. The accused may also be let off with a warning and an apology to the person who was harassed.
The board can impose a temporary ban on the harasser from UDK events, activities, or facilities. If harassment occurs in the organization's communication channels (Telegram, Instagram), the harasser may be blocked from that channel. Before any disciplinary actions are taken, the accused has the right to a verbal hearing, where they can share their side of the story.
If harassment comes to light during an event, the person guilty of harassment may be removed from the event by the organizers or a board member if necessary. In extreme cases, the removal of the harasser from the event may be carried out by law enforcement if the association’s own powers and means are insufficient. If harassment recurs at multiple events, a temporary ban may be imposed.
The board can expel a member from the association if the member significantly harms it through their behavior either within or outside the association, or if they seriously or repeatedly violate the principles of creating a safer space accepted by the association, or fail to fulfill their obligation to report their membership information in the annual member survey for two consecutive years, or no longer meet the membership criteria outlined in the law or the association’s bylaws. An expelled member may appeal the expulsion to the decision of the association’s meeting via a written appeal submitted to the board within thirty (30) days of the notification of the board’s decision. The decision of the association’s meeting is final.
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