Training on gender-based and sexual violence

This morning, doctoral students from the CLEAR-Doc program took part in an essential training session on gender-based and sexual violence (GBV). Organized as part of the doctoral program supported by the Internatinal Vice Presidency, the training, entitled “Harassment, gender-based and sexual violence: what to do?”, took the form of a three-hour online session, led in English by Anna-Livia Morand, from Adoc-Métis, and Louise Bourgoin, representative of the Mission Egalité at Uni Eiffel.

The challenge of VSS training for doctoral students
For the 25 doctoral students who took part in this session, this training is not just an administrative obligation or a simple awareness-raising exercise. It responds to profound issues for their careers, both academic and professional, and more generally for their integration into the world of work and society.
Sexist and sexual violence is a topical issue that affects all spheres, including academia. For young researchers working in a highly competitive environment, where hierarchies and power dynamics can create vulnerabilities, it is essential to know how to identify and react to such behavior. Understanding the mechanisms that underlie such violence enables them to strengthen their ability to detect abuse, support victims and act as agents of change in their working environment.
Such training also provides concrete tools for creating more inclusive and secure environments. This type of skill, often neglected in traditional curricula, is increasingly valued by research institutions, universities and companies alike. Moreover, it demonstrates a willingness to actively contribute to respectful workplaces, which can prove a significant asset for PhD students in their future careers.

The role of Adoc-Métis in this training programme
Adoc-Métis, an organization specializing in supporting researchers in training and career transition, took charge of this training program in collaboration with the Uni Eiffel Mission Egalité. The training program offered by Adoc-Métis is distinguished by its pedagogical and practical dimensions. It is not limited to theoretical awareness-raising, but proposes concrete strategies for dealing with situations of harassment or violence.
Doctoral students were informed about existing reporting tools, the steps to take in the event of a problematic situation, and the internal and external resources available to support them. The Mission Egalité also presented its role, highlighting the reporting mechanism dedicated to sexist and sexual violence within their institution.

Essential training funded by CLEAR-Doc
The fact that this training course is part of the CLEAR-Doc program shows the extent to which the human and ethical dimension is at the heart of the project's concerns. Fully funded by CLEAR-Doc, this initiative not only meets legal and institutional requirements, but also enables doctoral students to take a proactive approach to prevention and accountability.
By taking part in this training, doctoral students in the CLEAR-Doc program not only acquire the interpersonal and professional skills crucial to their future, but also strengthen their ability to create fairer and safer working environments. The often underestimated topic of SSVs thus takes on its full meaning in a context where the mental health and well-being of researchers are recognized as essential elements of academic and professional success.

Conclusion
This morning's training session on gender-based and sexual violence, attended by doctoral students from the CLEAR-Doc program, bears witness to a growing awareness in the academic world of the importance of these issues. Thanks to the support of organizations such as Adoc-Métis and Mission Egalité, doctoral students are now better equipped to identify, prevent and react to gender-based and sexual violence in their working environment. This type of training is a key element in their career path, enabling them to evolve in more inclusive contexts and become agents of change in the world of research and beyond.