Increased number of reports of misconduct & intimidation

On Friday, January 24, much attention was paid in the media to the figures that EenVandaag published about the increase in the number of reports of misconduct and harassment within the universities. The LNVH responded to this increase in the radio program EenVandaag on NPO1. Listen to the broadcast here (in Dutch).

We see the increase as a good sign. The statistics on harassment reports have always been unrealistically low. The LNVH report "Harassment in Dutch academia" already showed the underlying reasons for this low number of reports: the culture of silence/silencing that exists around reporting, thresholds that are experienced there and the lack of confidence in proper handling of complaints. It seems that due to all the attention for the theme both inside and outside academia, a turning point has been reached, resulting in people daring to report things sooner. An increase in the number of reports does therefore not immediately mean an increase in the number of cases. And despite the fact we see an increase in the number of reports as something positive, we still consider each case as one too many. It is therefore a recurring item on the agenda during every meeting we have with the university boards. Curious about the measures that universities have taken on social safety after the publication of the LNVH report? Have a look at this inventory (VSNU).