Every four minutes, a woman suffers violence at the hands of her (ex-)partner ^[1]. Across Germany, a femicide is committed almost every day ^[2]. For women who are politically active, assaults are increasingly shifting to the digital sphere - 63 per cent report digital violence ^[3]. And 90 per cent of young women state that they feel strong to extreme fear when meeting unknown men at night ^[4].

These figures are in line with global findings: One in three women aged 15 and over has experienced sexualised and/or physical violence, according to the WHO ^[5]. Violence against women is therefore not a local or marginalised phenomenon, but is deeply rooted in social structures.

The scientific landscape is also affected. The European UniSAFE study ^[6] shows: Almost two out of three staff and students at universities and research institutions report at least one form of gender-based violence since starting their job. These results emphasise how important it is for universities to take active responsibility - for safe learning, teaching and working conditions, for clear paths of action and for a culture of taking a closer look.

Since 1991, the 16-day UN campaign "Orange the World" has been drawing attention to violence against women and girls - from 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to 10 December, Human Rights Day ^[7]. The campaign calls on institutions, organisations and individuals to take a visible stand and assume responsibility.

The Central Equal Opportunities Office at the University of Oldenburg is also taking part this year at the start of Orange Days!

Information stand with hands-on campaign by the Central Equal Opportunities Office

25 November 2025 | 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Mensa foyer | Haarentor campus

All university members are invited to stop by the information stand in the Mensa foyer on 25 November. There you can not only find out more about the background to the day of action and the work of the Central Equal Opportunities Office, but also get active yourself: A join-in campaign invites you to make a personal statement against violence. Every participation helps to make the issue visible - within the university and beyond.

Violence against women affects us all - including in the university context. By looking, supporting and acting together, we strengthen a university culture that is characterised by respect, equality and safety for all.

Arrange a confidential counselling appointment with the Central Equal Opportunities Office of the University of Oldenburg!

Footnotes

[^1] Federal Ministry of the Interior (2025): https://www.bmi.bund.de/SharedDocs/schwerpunkte/DE/gewalt-gegen-frauen/gewalt-gegen-frauen-artikel.html
[^2] Federal Criminal Police Office (2024): https://www.bka.de/DE/Presse/Listenseite_Pressemitteilungen/2024/Presse2024/241119_PM_BLB_Straftaten_gegen_Frauen.html
[^3] HateAid (2025): https://hateaid.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/hateaid-tum-studie-angegriffen-und-alleingelassen-kurzfassung-2025.pdf
^[4] UN Women (n.d.): https://unwomen.de/orange-the-world/
[^5] WHO (2018): https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240022256
[^6] UniSAFE (2022): https://unisafe-gbv.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/UniSAFE-survey_prevalence-results_2022.pdf
[^7] UN Women (n.d.): https://unwomen.de/orange-the-world/