Information regarding how sexual harassment and discrimination are handled at KTH

This information is for you who have experienced some degree of discrimination, harassment or felt offended during KTH activities. Unfortunately, you are not alone in this. An investigation conducted by KTH (“Mellanårsenkät 2019”) showed that one out of three women has experienced some kind of victimization during their study time at KTH. In 66% of these cases, teachers from KTH or assistances were responsible for such degrading treatment. This aligns with a study we at Malvina conducted in Summer 2020 among our members. 

1/4 felt discriminated during their time at KTH according to our survey from 2020.

This is something that neither KTH, the Equality office nor we at Malvina can tolerate. In order to prevent such incidents, it is crucial for KTH to know where, when, and how these situations occurred. Therefore, it is important to report such happenings, either by doing so with your own name, or anonymously.  However, it’s important to know that anonymous reports can be discarded if sufficient information isn’t presented. 

We at Malvina will do everything in our power to make KTH take these types of incidents even more seriously than before. Additionally, we want to spread information about how and where you can get help. At the moment, we are working with creating awareness among students, professors, and other employees at the campus for what is going on. But in order to do so, it is essential that you report your case. By tight collaboration between KTH, the student union, KTH, Equality Office, and your program responsible can we at Malvina support you during such a process. KTH is taking questions regarding discrimination and harassment more seriously than ever before and are continuously improving their procedures regarding how to report as well as how to prevent such incidents.

Below we have summarized KTH’s registration procedure and what each step implicates.  

Do you want someone to talk through things before reporting? Do you need support during the process? Do not hesitate to contact jml@malvinakth.se, so can we book a meeting with you to support you the best we can. 

1.  I have experienced sexual harassment and/or discrimination at KTH. Who should I turn to?

Each department/school at KTH has its own contact person. They are obligated to guide you through the procedural routines in a correct and clear manner so you will receive all the support you need during both reporting and investigating such incidents. 

Cecilia Månson Blom

cecilia.manson@abe.kth.se

Per Dalhammar

perda@kth.se

Marianne Lundin

marianlu@kth.se

Andreas Alm Arvidsson

andreas.alm.arvidsson@itm.kth.se

Hanna Sara Karlsson 

hska@kth.se

Additionally, you can contact the responsible person at THS student union: studiesocialt@ths.kth.se

It is also possible to call Kvinnofridslinjen 020505050.

2.  How do the procedural routines look like?

The process each contact person from the respective department is obligated to guide you through includes these  following five steps: 

More about the report:

3.  What is going to happen if I report a person/s anonymously?

Definition: An anonymous report happens if the exposed person reports the incident to KTH without providing their name. 

When this happens, it is impossible for KTH to make a legal disclaim and further send the report to the justice department and Disciplinary board. It is the Disciplinary board at KTH and the President that take decisions when it comes to evaluate specific happenings, such as disciplinary actions (e.g temporary suspension from studies). When it comes to teachers and employees at KTH, it will also include a report to the board of Staff at KTH, they take decisions such as disciplinary actions for KTH employees (e.g salary deduction or termination of employment.

It is important to remember that the responsible person/s is/are not going to be accused and deemed according to the law if the report is handed in anonymously. This means that an anonymous report is not as strong as a personal one. The investigation can be shut down if you don’t report with your name and only general actions can take place. On the other hand, is an anonymous report always better than none. However, we recommend you to carefully consider this and think about reporting with your name. If you report an incident with your name it does not automatically mean that disciplinary actions will take place. This will be decided for each individual case if no other action plans and general measurements helped to improve the situation. On a legal basis, there is a difference between disciplinary actions and the Disciplination act itself. 

4.  I have been a witness of a discriminating incident, degrading treatment or (sexual) harassment. What should I do?

5.  What is going to happen if I report with my own name?

6.  Which legal guidelines should be considered if I report?

7.  What kind of support is KTH providing?

lenaas@kth.se 

nholmste@kth.se 

8. What is discrimination according to the law?

According to the Discrimination Act (2008:567), discrimination is, when one person is treated worse than another person for unjustified reasons. This unequal treatment is related to one or several of the discriminatory grounds; gender, gender-identity or expression, ethnicity, religion or other belief, disability, sexual orientation or age. 

According to the Discrimination Act, it is prohibited for employees and education providers to discriminate, the law also prohibits retaliation, e.g. to counteract or harm someone who has reported you before. 

There are two types of discrimination; direct and indirect. Below examples for both cases are shown. 

9. What is considered harassment?

Harassment is commonly a repeating behavior and is perceived as insulting, threatening, upsetting or mistreating behavior for the victim. 

10. What is considered degrading treatment (victimization)?

Example actions which are considered as victimization: