Dear Employees, dear Students,
The Humboldt-Universit?t condemns abuses of power and sexualised assaults and takes consistent action against such misconduct using all available means. As the university management, we have therefore terminated the employment of a member of academic staff after initially placing him on leave.
Following the incidents of verbal sexual assaults that recently came to light, we used all available options, together with the responsible department’s management, to first comprehensively clarify the facts and protect the persons affected. At the beginning of August, the staff member was released from his duties until further notice (see communication from August 3, 2023).
Since then, the internal investigations have continued intensively. As the university management, we are convinced that the continued employment of the staff member in question is no longer acceptable to the students, teachers and staff of the Humboldt-Universit?t. After examining all options under labour and employment law, we have now terminated his employment on extraordinary grounds, effective August 18, 2023. On August 30, 2023, the HU was served with a complaint from the employee in question against his extraordinary dismissal.
With this dismissal, the current university management is sending a clear signal that respectful interactions form the basis for teaching and research at the Humboldt-Universit?t. We pursue allegations of abuse of power and sexualised assaults in a consistent and systematic manner. In doing so, we rely on the HU’s works agreement for respectful interactions, which has been in force since 2014.
This protects university members and guests from sexualised violence and discrimination and regulates the rights of victims as well as procedures and measures in cases of conflict. Those affected can take advantage of counselling and facilitation. Measures can range from a written warning to the initiation of disciplinary proceedings, or – as in this case – extraordinary dismissal. The university must measure its actions against this guideline.
The Humboldt-Universit?t relies on the information provided by those affected. We therefore continue to ask all affected persons to contact the Women’s and Equal Opportunities Officers, the university management directly, or the student representatives in the event of any further, as yet unidentified, cases of misconduct. Only in this way is it possible to promptly initiate investigations into specific incidents and, if necessary, take legal action.
The Women’s and Equal Opportunities Officers provide comprehensive counselling to persons affected by sexualised discrimination and violence at the HU and support complaint procedures in a confidential manner. In doing so, they always respect the wishes of the complainants for mediation and facilitation, as well as for anonymity or for the initiation of legal proceedings.
How to contact the office of the Central Women’s and Equal Opportunities Officer:
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Phone: 030 2093 12830
List of the decentralised Women's and Equal Opportunities Officers of the HU
Yours sincerely
Prof. Dr Julia von Blumenthal
President of the Humboldt-Universit?t
Niels Helle-Meyer
Vice-President for Finance, Human Resources and Operations
Prof. Dr Niels Pinkwart
Vice-President for Academic Affairs
Prof. Dr Christoph Schneider
Vice-President for Research