Hacettepe University has adopted an anti-discrimination policy towards all its staff and students and has committed to gender equality.

This commitment is reflected in Article 6(1)(b) of Hacettepe University’s Institutional Ethical Principles and Institutional Ethics Committee Directive, which prohibits discrimination on grounds including gender and sexual orientation. Article 2 establishes the scope of the Directive, covering university staff and students.

It reads: “No discrimination shall be made between individuals based on language, origin, color, physical characteristics, gender, sexual orientation, political beliefs, faith, religion, sect, or similar attributes. Fair treatment will be ensured in the provision of services.”

Furthermore, these principles are supported by the work of the “Protection and Support Commission Against Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault” and the “Gender Equality Commission”.

The Directive on the Hacettepe University Protection and Support Commission Against Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault, prepared by the Hacettepe University Women’s Research and Implementation Center (HUWRIC), was adopted by the University Senate in 2019 and entered into force the same year. In line with the Directive, the members of the Commission were appointed, and the document was revised in 2020 to strengthen its effectiveness. The Commission aims to protect all members of the university community—academic staff, administrative staff, and students—across Hacettepe University and its affiliated units against gender-based violence, sexual harassment, sexual abuse, sexual assault, stalking, and retaliation, and to provide support to those who experience such incidents. Within this framework, the Hacettepe University Gender Equality Action Plan (2022-2026) was prepared, and the “Gender Equality Commission,” composed of Senate members, was formally established.

The Directive on the Hacettepe University Protection and Support Commission Against Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault

Hacettepe University’s Gender Equality Action Plan (2022–2026) addresses the prevention of discrimination within the University. Action 1.4 includes measures concerning discrimination, mobbing and sexual harassment, as well as the investigation of violence experienced by employees on the grounds of sexual orientation. Action 1.8 supports the integration of gender equality principles into institutional practices. These provisions form part of the University’s broader framework for preventing discrimination and promoting equal treatment.

Hacettepe University Gender Equality Action Plan (2022-2026)

Members of the Hacettepe University Commission on Protection and Support Against Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault

Gender Equality Commission Members