10.6.11. Anti-harassment policy
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10.6.11. Anti-harassment policy
METU has an anti-harassment policy that covers all members of the university and all its operations.
Policy
The Directive of the METU Gender Equality Support and Sexual Harassment Prevention Unit (CİTÖB), approved by the METU Senate on 24 May 2016 (decision 2016/4-6), sets out how CİTÖB raises awareness and how complaints of sexual harassment and assault are received, investigated and resolved. It is read together with METU's Gender Equality Principles and Strategies Document. It covers all members of the university – students, academic and administrative staff, and everyone who works or lives on campus – for any sexual harassment or assault on METU campuses and in places and vehicles assigned to university services, whether against each other or against third parties, as long as at least one party is linked to the university. Complaints are registered without the complainant's identity, no action is taken without the complainant's request except where the law requires it, and CİTÖB's findings are sent to the Rector under confidential stamp.
Prevention and training in 2025
- Since 24 November 2025, CİTÖB has held weekly awareness seminars every Monday at 17:45 with student communities and academic departments; the first was with the Underwater Sports Community, and on 8 December 2025 the Scouting and Underwater communities took part.
https://citob.metu.edu.tr/tr/duyurular/duzenli-citob-seminerleri-basladi
- On 1 and 2 December 2025, CİTÖB trained students living in METU dormitories and dormitory staff, in separate sessions led by Prof. Dr. F. Umut Beşpınar, on preventing sexual harassment and gender-based violence.
- On 23 December 2025, CİTÖB published guidance on digital violence and shared the 'Digital Violence / Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence Guide' produced under the UN Women Türkiye and UNFPA Türkiye campaign to end digital violence against women and girls.
https://citob.metu.edu.tr/tr/duyurular/dijital-siddetle-ilgili-terimler
- On 28 November 2025, METU took part in the workshop of the Inter-University Communication Network against Sexual Harassment and Assault, hosted by Başkent University, where Prof. Dr. F. Umut Beşpınar spoke on the panel on institutionalising the fight against sexual harassment and assault in universities.