Equal Treatment and Nondiscrimination
For a Culture of Awareness
There should be a culture of fairness, appreciation, and equal treatment at RWTH Aachen, including during conflict management. However, this is only possible, if every single person – whether from the student body or staff – takes responsibility for this and supports a culture of awareness, by taking a closer look and not looking away when conflicts take place or are initiated. Violence, harassment, discrimination, and derogatory behavior have no place at our university or anywhere else!
With more than 40,000 students and almost 10,000 employees, it goes without saying that there problems at RWTH Aachen. Additionally, it cannot be denied that the pressure in studies, research, and in work has intensified through the consolidation of curricula and workloads, which increases the vulnerability to conflicts. Fairness and equal opportunities are values that are sometimes forgotten, resulting in an increased number of cases of inequal treament, unfair behavior, agression, discrimination, bullying, and sexual violence.
Legal Framework
This must not and shall not be tolerated, especially since there is a legal framework, to which we must hold ourselves. There are advising and support services for all target groups – both within and outside of the university. RWTH Aachen additionally has developed a two-step complaint process. For this it also has Guidelines for Protection against Discrimination according to the General Equal Treatment Act or AGG of RWTH Aachen University.
Earlier Name Change Possible for Transgender People at RWTH
The Rector’s Office decided to allow early name changes for people whose gender identity is not (yet) legally official in its meeting on July 9, 2019. The person concerned must have submitted an application to the local court for a change of name or civil status in accordance with the Transsexuellengesetz – Transsexuals Act and possess an additional identity card issued by the German Society for Transsexuality and Intersexuality – dgti e.V.
Although it may still be necessary to indicate their previous identity when corresponding with third parties, e.g. health insurance providers the tax office, the pension office, this innovation marks an improvement in the living, studying, and working conditions for transgender people and a step closer to equality.
Any students wishing to make use of this new regulation should contact the Registrar’s Office, while staff members should contact the Department of Human Resources.