Discrimination, harassment and victimisation
At BTH, everyone should have equal rights and opportunities - regardless of gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, religion or other belief, disability, sexual orientation or age.
We have zero tolerance for discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment, victimisation, threats, violence and retaliation. Everyone should be able to study in a safe and respectful environment.
As a student, you are covered by the Swedish Work Environment Act, Arbetsmiljölagen, (with a few exceptions). This means you have both rights and responsibilities. Together, we create a safe and inclusive university!
Want to know more about your rights? Read more on the Equality Ombudsman (DO) website.
Discrimination and victimisation
At BTH, everyone should feel safe and respected. That is why we have zero tolerance for discrimination, harassment and victimisation.
What is discrimination?
Discrimination means that a person is treated worse than someone else in a similar situation, based on one of the seven grounds of discrimination:
- Gender
- Gender identity or gender expression
- Ethnicity
- Religion or other belief
- Disability
- Sexual orientation
- Age
Different types of discrimination
- Direct discrimination - when someone is treated less favorably than others because of a ground of discrimination.
- Indirect discrimination - when a rule or practice appears neutral but in practice disadvantages certain groups.
- Lack of accessibility - when a person with a disability is put at a disadvantage because of inadequate adaptations.
What is harassment and victimisation?
- Harassment - behavior that violates someone's dignity, for example through derogatory comments, jokes or ostracism.
- Sexual harassment - unwanted conduct of a sexual nature, such as groping, leering or unwelcome comments.
- Instruction to discriminate - when someone is ordered to treat another person in a discriminatory way.
- Victimisation - words or actions that can make someone feel bad or excluded.
Threats and violence
- Threats - can be verbal, written or through body language and are intended to intimidate someone.
- Violence - physical acts that hurt someone, from pushing and holding to serious violence.
Take action if you see or experience discrimination
If you or someone else is being discriminated against, harassed or victimised:
- Speak up - you have the right to speak up if something feels uncomfortable or offensive.
- Write down what happened - note the time, place and sequence of events. This can be important documentation.
- Report - both the victim and the person who sees something can make a report. Note that reports cannot be made anonymously. You can submit a report here.
Read more in the brochure "Discrimination, harassment and victimisation". pdf, 4.7 MB.
Support and help
You can get help from the Student Union, a teacher or programme manager. If you feel that you do not want to turn here, contact Student Support (which has a duty of confidentiality), or someone else you trust at BTH.
Guidance and counseling
If you need to talk to someone about what you have experienced or seen, you can get guidance and support from conversational support or a chaplain or the student union.