International workshop on combating sexual harassment in the academic environment

The event brought together researchers, experts and professionals committed to these issues from all over the world - including Australia, Egypt, Ghana, New Zealand, Colombia, India, Jordan, the UK, Switzerland and the Czech Republic. Together, they discussed definitions, impacts and levers for action to strengthen a safer and more equitable academic environment on an international scale, particularly in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) disciplines.

The first day, opened by Geneviève Almouzni, Director of Research at CNRS, member of the French Academy of Sciences and the European Research Council, laid the conceptual foundations of the subject: definitions, impacts on individuals and institutions, and challenges related to international data collection.

The second day was devoted to the presentation of national case studies (Australia, Colombia, Nigeria, France, India, Jordan), illustrating the diversity of approaches and initiatives. Juliette Rochet, Director of the Department of Committees and Reports at the French Academy of Sciences, presented the "Sciences: où sont les femmes?" report published in 2024, drawn up by the working group that included Geneviève Almouzni and Patrick Flandrin, Delegate for Scientific Information and Communication, who was also present at the workshop.

The workshop concluded with a collective reflection on a shared commitment to the prevention of sexual harassment in academic and scientific circles on an international scale. The participants formulated remarks and proposals for adjustments to the commitment document, in the light of the exchanges and discussions held throughout the workshop.