Prevention of interpersonal and sexualized violence in sport
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UNISport and IfSS adopt joint position paper on the prevention of interpersonal and sexualized violence
*This position paper was authored by Dr. Julia Limmeroth and Dr. Lisa Claußen on behalf of the Institute for Sport and Sports Science and UNISports at the University of Kassel and was approved by the Executive Board on April 29, 2026.
With the adoption of the Institute’s own position paper on the prevention of interpersonal and sexualized violence in sports, we are committed to a safe, respectful, and discrimination-free environment—in teaching, research, and the university’s sports, physical activity, and health programs.
The position paper was adopted by the IfSS Executive Board on April 29, 2026, and is addressed to all employees, faculty, and students of the institute, as well as to UNISports instructors and members.
“The Institute takes a clear stand against all forms of interpersonal violence—particularly sexual violence—discrimination, and abuse of power,” states the preamble to the paper. This not only articulates a stance but also establishes an institutional framework that defines concrete measures, protective structures, and responsibilities.
The position paper explicitly acknowledges that abuse of power and violence can also occur in university sports, teaching, and research. It identifies specific areas of risk, including mentor-mentee relationships between faculty and students, hands-on teaching formats, field trips, large-scale events, and hierarchical structures in sports programs, and calls for these to be addressed through context-specific protection strategies.
For UNISport, this means that the Code of Ethics—which has been mandatory since 2022—must be consistently integrated into all course offerings, instructor contracts, and informational materials. Regular training sessions, clear reporting channels, and feedback processes are intended to ensure that prevention does not remain merely on paper but is actively practiced in the day-to-day operations of college sports.
The position paper concludes with a binding action plan:
- Publication of the position paper on the institute’s website
- Petition for employees and students as a visible commitment
- Designation and announcement of trained contact persons for IfSS and UNISport
- Conducting a risk analysis as the basis for a comprehensive institute-wide safety plan
- Integration of the topic into teaching, professional development, and university structures
Those affected or seeking advice can contact the University of Kassel’s counseling and complaint offices, including the Women’s and Equal Opportunity Officer and the AGG Complaint Office. Sports-specific support is offered by external organizations such as Safe Sport e.V. Outside the university, for example, the specialized counseling center faX in Kassel can be contacted
Contact for inquiries: safesport[at]uni-kassel[dot]de