ITECH Lyon has set up a system to combat all inappropriate acts that can undermine good relations between students and employees at the school. This is the HDVSS hotline.
What is the HDVSS hotline?
A team dedicated to listening to and supporting all victims and witnesses of harassment, discrimination and sexual and gender-based violence.
Who is part of the hotline?
The members of the “cellule d’écoute” (as it is called in French) are employees of ITECH Lyon, but throughout the process they do not represent their functions as teachers, administrators, etc., but a resource to listen and guide.
“We’re not psychologists, lawyers or judges. We’re here to listen and support you, without taking sides or passing judgment.”
How does the hotline work?
A student or employee who is a victim or witness can contact the unit by e-mail at celluledecoute@itech.fr, or speak to one of the members in person.
Following the first contact, the person who contacts the unit will be given an appointment to discuss the situation, seek solutions and/or resources, in complete confidentiality. It’s up to the person to decide whether or not to continue after this initial contact, nothing is imposed.
The role of the hotline
To listen impartially and without judgment to the victim or witness who wishes to explain their problem.
The hotline’s mission
Accompany and guide the victim or witness in need of support.
Why should you contact the hotline?
To be listened to, if you have witnessed or experienced harassment, humiliating or discriminatory acts, violence (moral, sexist, sexual), whatever the context: in the workplace, at school, in the evening, online…
What situations should I report?
Some definitions, based on the French penal code:
Moral harassment
Manifested by repeated acts that may lead to a deterioration in the working or study conditions of the victim, resulting in: an infringement of his or her rights and dignity or an impairment of his or her physical or mental health. or a threat to his or her professional development.
Sexual harassment
Characterized by the repeated imposition on a person of comments or behavior with sexual or sexist connotations, which:
- violate a person’s dignity by being degrading or humiliating,
- or create an intimidating, hostile or offensive situation.
Sexual harassment is any form of serious pressure (even if not repeated) with the real or apparent aim of obtaining a sexual act, for the benefit of the perpetrator or a third party.
In both cases, sexual harassment is punishable regardless of the relationship between the perpetrator and the victim (harassment by a relative, neighbor, etc.).
If the perpetrator has had physical contact with the victim, it could be a case of sexual assault, which is punished more severely than sexual harassment.
Rape
Rape occurs when an act of sexual or oral penetration is committed against a person, using violence, coercion, threats or surprise, i.e. without the person’s consent.
Sexual penetration may be vaginal, anal or bucco-genital, and may involve the sex, the fingers, another part of the body or an object.
Coercion may be physical or moral.
Acts of violence are not required to qualify an act of sexual penetration as rape.
It is sufficient that the victim has not given her consent, or has not been in a position to give a clear answer.
Discrimination
Any distinction made between people on the basis of several criteria, such as origin, sex, family status, physical appearance, economic situation, place of residence, state of health, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, political opinion, ability to express oneself in a language other than French…
