Sexual safety
A safe environment is essential to your growth as a student. There is no place for sexual violence at our university. Whether you need support or want to learn how to get involved, the university is here for you. You can find out where to get help on these pages.
It is never your fault if someone violates your boundaries. We are here to support you, even if all you want to do is get something off your chest. Please don't hesitate to contact us!
Together, we are standing up for a respectful university. Find support or help others in a way that suits you. Inform yourself using our resources, get in touch with our team, or join one of the prevention initiatives.
Need help? Head straight to our support page.
We are continuously working on the information on this page; if you have any comments or suggestions, please contact us at sexualsafetyum@maastrichtuniversity.nl.
If you are experiencing any kind of undesirable behaviour, you can contact the Social Safety Team – Students.
Support
Do you need help because you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence?
See the options available here.
Follow the Are you okay? lecture on Canvas
Information
Do you want know more about sexual violence?
Take a look at our resources and up-to-date information.
Training and prevention
Do you feel connected to the topic of sexual safety and want to actively contribute? Then we could really use your help.
See here what you can do and how to sign up for our training sessions and groups.
Green Dot
Green Dot is a university-wide, evidence-based bystander intervention developed to reduce the incidence of sexual violence.
Would you like more information? Or would you like to organise a workshop? Visit the Green Dot page.
Recent publications
Here, you can read the recent publications by the UM Sexual Safety Programme.
Progress report
Programme manager Joyce Grul has compiled the experiences, successes and obstacles of the past two years in a progress report. This report provides insights into the selected approach and the implementation of interventions.
Read the progress report here.
Consent document
As of 1 July 2024, the new Sexual Offences Act has come into force in the Netherlands, introducing mutual consent as the basic standard for sexual contact. This means that sex is no longer only punishable in cases of coercion or violence, but also when there is no consent, such as in the case of someone who, for example by freezing, is unable to resist.
This document ‘Consensual interactions between members of the UM community (online and offline)’ provides clear guidelines for respectful (sexual) interaction within UM. It describes what consent encompasses, and provides information about support, reporting, and the legal framework within which UM operates when undesirable behaviour is experienced. This document helps normalise conversations about mutual consent, respect and boundaries.
Read the document Consensual interactions between members of the UM community (online and offline).
News
Sexual safety at UM: two years of growth, action and engagement
This summer, UM marks the two-year anniversary of the UM Sexual Safety Programme.
Are you okay? lecture available to all UM students
- Students
- UM news
The Sexual Safety Programme has made the online version of the "Are you okay?" lecture available to all Maastricht Univ
Government commissioner Mariette Hamer discusses sexual safety
- UM news
Government Commissioner Mariette Hamer, responsible for addressing issues related to sexual misconduct and sexual viole
Addressing sexual safety at INKOM 2023
- Students
- UM news
At last week's INKOM, attention was paid to the social safety of students, especially the sexual aspect
Sexual Safety Programme launched at Maastricht University
- Students
- UM news
The beginning of the new academic year at Maastricht University (UM) also marks the introduction of the new UM S
