Gender Policy Code of Conduct
Guaranteeing equal opportunities for women and men is an important issue at the University of Zurich and the principle of establishing equality between the genders has been anchored in numerous legal and strategic documents for quite some time. Recently, the university has also introduced a code of conduct: on 20 March 2006 university administration resolved upon implementing the Gender Policy Code of Conduct. The code contains seven principles that set a signal for a practiced culture of equal opportunity. - The text runs as follows:
Basic Principle:
Members of the University of Zurich must work in a decisive and creative way to guarantee that women and men have the same rights and the same opportunities to develop. The following code of conduct applies to everyone who works or studies at the University of Zurich. The administrative committees of the University of Zurich support members of the University of Zurich in advancing and practicing actual equality between women and men.
- The interests of both genders must be optimally served at all levels and in all functions. This includes equal representation in personnel as well as other ways of including the specific concerns of each gender.
- The University of Zurich strives for a balanced representation of both genders in all functions and committees at the university. If one gender is clearly underrepresented, a candidate of the underrepresented gender will be given preference on principle as long as the qualifications are equivalent. The advancement of female academics receives particular attention.
- Gender must not have disadvantageous consequences for any person, male or female.
- The University of Zurich advances forms of employment that help members combine career, studies and a family. The university has day care facilities for its members' children.
- The dignity and integrity of every human being must be respected. Sexual harassment and sexist behaviour violate the dignity of a human being.
- Use of language at the University of Zurich aims at reflecting the greatest possible amount of gender equality.
- Data relevant to the issue of equal opportunities are collected regularly and linked with the university's management tools. They are then analysed with regard to achievements and future goals. The Gender Equality Committee and the UniFrauenstelle – Office for Gender Equality advise members of the university in questions concerning gender policy.
Links
kihz – the Foundation for Child Care in the Zurich University Area
Manual for the Equal Treatment of Men and Women in Language (in German)