Discrimination
Procedure for reporting discrimination, including sexual harassment and unequal treatment
There are two ways for reporting discrimination and unequal treatment at the University of Warsaw:
- Informal resolution by the Team of the Academic Ombudsman
A person who comes to the Academic Ombudsman with a problem of sexual harassment, discrimination or unequal treatment can be supported by the following actions:
- listening to and supporting you in choosing how to resolve the problem, including helping you name and diagnose potential legal and psychological violations, as well as providing relevant information on the University of Warsaw’s rules and regulations;
- intervening in the case, e.g., by talking to potential perpetrators or their supervisors to provide feedback, highlight irregularities and call for an end to violations;
- support for the resolution of conflicts accompanied by discrimination or unequal treatment, e.g., by mediation;
- support in contacting other university units providing psychological and legal assistance, including assistance in initiating action under the Anti-Discrimination Procedure;
- forwarding the information presented to the authorities of the unit or the university, in particular, drafting a request to the Rector for the initiation of disciplinary proceedings.
The initiative belongs to the reporting person to decide what action is to be taken by the Academic Ombudsman. Neither the Academic Ombudsman nor representatives of their team intervene without the consent of the reporting person, except for life and health emergencies.
The Office is open from Monday to Thursday, 8:30 – 15:30.
It is necessary to arrange a meeting in advance by e-mail.
Contact details:
University of Warsaw Library
Address: Dobra 56/66, mezzanine, room No. 160C
phone number: 22 55 27 019
- Formal submitting of a complaint against discrimination and unequal tretment
Formal submissions of complaints to the Anti-unequal treatment and discrimination Commission are regulated by the ordinance of the Rector of the UW No. 21 on policies on preventing unequal treatment, discrimination, mobbing, and other undesirable behaviour at the University of Warsaw.
The ordinance describes step by step who is entitled to submit a complaint, how to file a complaint, how the proceedings are conducted and what are the consequences of confirming undesirable behaviour.
Initiation of proceedings
It is necessary for the person directly affected by event to report the case in person. The person charged in the procedure must be an employee of the UW, a PhD student or a person studying at the UW. They have to be necessarily affiliated with the UW. Former employees and Ph.D students and students are not subject to the procedure. The person affected may be someone from outside the UW.
A complaint is public and is submitted to the Team of Coordinators for counteracting unequal treatment, discrimination, mobbing and other undesirable behaviour (either in person or via email: zespolkoordynatorow@uw.edu.pl).
The Coordinator, after having met with the person(s) affected and gathered evidence, initially investigates the case and, if the discrimination or unequal treatment is confirmed, refers the case to the Unequal Treatment and Discrimination Commission. In other cases, the Coordinator may refer the reporting person, with their consent, to the appropriate university unit that can assist in resolving the problem.
Proceedings
Information on the initiation of proceedings before the Commission is forwarded to the charged person and their supervisor (from the moment the case is reported to the Commission, the proceedings cease to be confidential). The purpose of the proceedings before the Commission is to express an opinion on the complaint and provide recommendations on further actions.
The proceedings conducted by the Review Team should be completed within four months (in justified circumstances, this deadline may be extended)
The Commission committee has the right to recommend remedial measures relating to the context of a given case (e.g.: an obligatory participation in anti-discrimination or anti-mobbing training or workshops, an obligation to apologize, refer the case to a disciplinary spokeperson, terminate an employment contract or civil-law contract, towards the injured person: psychological support, change of class group, examiner, supervisor or auxiliary supervisor, transfer within the University structures).
The opinion of the Commission, containing a written justification of the adopted position, is forwarded to the Rector and the head of the unit or other appropriate superior, as well as to the person initiating the proceedings and the person against whom the proceedings were pending.
Consequences of the Commission issuing an opinion:
If the Commission finds a case of unequal treatment, discrimination, including harassment, sexual harassment, mobbing or other undesirable behaviour, the Rector may decide to:
- imposing a warning if the act constitutes a minor disciplinary offense and proving guilt does not require explanatory proceedings;
- imposing a disciplinary penalty under the Labour Code;
- instructing the disciplinary spokesperson (respectively for employees who are academic teachers or for students and doctoral students) to conduct explanatory proceedings and, if there are grounds, to initiate a disciplinary procedure;
- termination of the employment contract or the civil law contract;
- application of the remedial measures recommended by the Commission.
The Rector, within one month of receiving the Commission’s position, informs in writing the relevant Commission and the Coordinator, as well as the reporting person, the person whom the report concerns and the superior or head of the relevant organizational unit about any further actions taken in the case.
Contact details:
The Team of Coordinators for counteracting unequal treatment, discrimination, mobbing and other undesirable behaviour
Anna Grędzińska and Agata Wrona
Address: Dobra 56/66 (1st floor, room No 1.60)
00 – 312 Warszawa
e-mail: zespolkoordynatorow@uw.edu.pl
Unequal Treatment and Discrimination Commission
The Unequal Treatment and Discrimination Commission aims to provide opinions on formal complaints regarding unequal treatment and discrimination as well as recommend remedies related to the context of a given case.
Members of the Commission for 2024–2028:
Chairperson:
dr hab. Barbara Maria Namysłowska-Gabrysiak – Faculty of Law and Administration
Members:
dr Julia Berg-Bajraszewska – Faculty of Management
dr hab. Michał Bilewicz, prof. ucz. – Faculty of Psychology
dr Anna Cybulko – Faculty of Management
dr Barbara Godlewska-Bujok – Faculty of Management
dr hab. Elwira Gross-Gołacka, prof. ucz. – Faculty of Management
mgr Agata Kapica – Human Resources Office
prof. dr hab. Agnieszka Kościańska – Faculty of Culture and Arts
dr hab. Karolina Krasuska, prof. ucz. – Institute of the Americas and Europe
mgr Katarzyna Maria Kucharska – University Volunteer Center
dr Adam Ploszka – Faculty of Law and Administration
dr hab. Ryszard Szarfenberg, prof. ucz. – Faculty of Political Science and International Studies
dr hab. Bartłomiej Walczak, prof. ucz. – Faculty of Applied Social Sciences and Resocialisation
dr Aleksandra Winiarska – Faculty of Applied Social Sciences and Resocialisation
dr Łukasz Wróbel – Faculty of Polish Studies.
Contact details:
The Commission is supported by mgr Aleksandra Gniadzik-Smolińska from the Center for American Studies