Counselling
The Anti-Discrimination Office provides individual advice for students, employees, and other members of the university who experience or witness discrimination or have questions or need support on the topic of (anti-)discrimination. If you are unsure whether what you have experienced or witnessed qualifies as discrimination, sexualised harassment, stalking, or violence, you are welcome to contact the Anti-Discrimination Office for clarification.
The Anti-Discrimination Office is also available to provide collegial advice as well as support for individuals and centres or offices that want to take action against discrimination in their environment.
Counselling is confidential and covers all forms of discrimination, e.g., racism (including anti-Muslim racism), transphobia and homophobia, anti-Semitism, classism, ableism, sexism, and all types of violence.
Support and Counselling Services for sexualised Discrimination and Violence
Internal University Counselling Services
The Anti-Discrimination Office of the University of Wuppertal is the point of contact for students, employees, and members of the university seeking advice on sexualised discrimination and violence. Counselling is confidential and can be anonymous if required.
Counselling appointments can be arranged by telephone or email.
Contact:
Nicole Potenza, M.A.
Anti-Discrimination Officer
Room: O.12.08
✆ +49 (0) 202/439-2902
@ antidiskriminierung[at]uni-wuppertal.de
Materials for Counselling
The memory log offers those affected and witnesses the opportunity to document cases of discrimination or harassment in a timely manner. This way important information is not forgotten and the essential information and important details are remembered. Documenting can be incredibly beneficial for further proceedings.
Counselling record
The record is designed as a resource for employees providing counselling services at the University of Wuppertal and offers a structured questionnaire for documenting cases of discrimination or harassment.
External Counselling Services
- All listed centres offer confidential and, if desired, anonymous advice. -
Violence against Women Helpline
The helpline is a nationwide counselling service for women who experienced or are still experiencing violence. The number ✆ 116 016 is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Counselling is anonymous and offered free of charge. In addition to telephone counselling, online counselling is also available. The counselling service is also aimed at relatives, friends, and professionals.
FrauenBeratung Wuppertal e.V.A general women’s advice centre and a centre for victims of sexual violence. Contact point for women in crises, seeking encouragement, relationship conflicts, eating disorders, victims of psychological, physical or domestic violence, victims of sexualised violence, assault or rape and victims of sexual harassment in the workplace.
More information about the work of FrauenBeratung and appointments for open counselling sessions (without registration) as well as personal counselling sessions (by appointment) can be found on the website of FrauenBeratung Wuppertal. Please note that the website is currently only available in German. If you wish to translate it, you may need a browser extension. Their information brochure is available in multiple languages.
✆ +49 (0) 202/30 60 07
@ info[at]frauenberatungwuppertal.de
Counselling and support for women in cases of domestic violence and stalking, information about the Act on Protection against Violence (Gewaltschutzgesetz, GewSchG), and the next steps to take after a partner or family member was banned from the home following a police order in Wuppertal.
✆ +49 (0) 202/31 88 55
Indigo – women’s advice centre Remscheid
A general women’s advice centre and specialist advice centre against sexualised violence run by SkF e. V. Bergisch Land in Remscheid. Advice for women and their relatives on sexualised and domestic violence as well as other women-specific issues. In addition to individual counselling, the services also include psychosocial process support. The employees are contact persons for the Anonymous Forensic Evidence Collection (AFC, German: Anonyme Spurensicherung (ASS)) after sexual offences in Remscheid.
This website is currently only available in German. However, you can find the centre’s leaflet in various languages in the red drop-down menu on the main page (“Flyer in verschiedenen Sprachen”) or you can translate the website via an extension.
✆ +49 (0) 2191/69660-0
@ indigo.fachberatung[at]skf-bergischland.de
Women’s advice centre Solingen
Counselling for women experiencing personal crises, emotional stress, and difficult situations. The centre offers specialist advice on topics such as sexualised and domestic violence, stalking or forced marriage. Furthermore, women receive advice on anonymous forensic evidence collection after sexualised violence (AFC). The service is also available for relatives and professionals.
Twice a month, lawyers specialised in family law provide free advice on individual family law issues on a voluntary basis during a legal consultation session.
The website is available in multiple languages.
Legal counselling
On the first and third Thursday of the month,
10:30 am - 12:00 noon
Please register for a Thursday appointment from Monday until Wednesday.
✆ +49 (0) 212-55470
@ info[at]frauenberatung-sg.de
Germany-wide women’s refuge search
Nationwide map for available refuges, with options for languages, acceptance of sons, pets, accommodation options, accessibility and type of facility.
The map is available in multiple languages.
- All listed centres offer confidential and, if desired, anonymous advice. -
The men’s counselling network (Männerberatungsnetz) brings together nationwide counselling services that specialise in the concerns and conflict situations of boys, men, and fathers. A website summary in English is available here. The map is only available in German.
Counselling and shelters for men affected by violence
Nationwide search engine to search shelter and counselling services for men affected by different forms of violence.
Sexualised violence can happen to anyone. If you experienced rape or any other form of sexualised violence, you can get help. The Anonymous forensic Evidence collection after sexualised Violence (AFC) makes it possible to secure necessary evidence (traces of semen, injuries, hair, etc.) without necessarily having to report the incident directly to the police. This procedure gives you time to consider the next steps in peace. The evidence is stored for up to ten years.
- From the age of 16: Helios University Hospital Wuppertal, gynaecologic outpatient clinic of the Landesfrauenklinik, ✆ +49 (0) 202-896 1425
- Under the age of 16: Helios University Hospital Wuppertal, emergency outpatient clinic of the paediatric clinic, ✆ +49 (0) 202-896 3800
- People of all ages: Agaplesion Bethessda Hospital, emergency outpatient clinic, ✆ +49 (0) 202-2900
You may need a browser extension to translate this page.
The victim support organisation WEISSER RING e.V. offers a free and anonymous victim helpline (every day from 7 am to 10 pm) by the number ✆ 116 006. Anonymous online counselling is also possible.
WEISSER RING e. V. regional office NRW/Rheinland, Wuppertal
Local contact points for victim support and crime prevention.
✆ +49 (0) 151/55 164 655
@ wuppertal[at]mail.weisser-ring.de
Police victim protection aims to do justice to those affected by criminal offences both during and outside of criminal proceedings. Furthermore, its goal is to promote trust in cooperation with the investigating authorities. This support does not only include an understanding way of dealing with the situation of those affected and communicating the procedures and victims’ rights in an understandable manner, but also providing support services.
On the websites of the Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency you will find information on sexualised discrimination as well as contact addresses and emergency numbers
Support and counselling services for various forms of discrimination
Internal University Counselling Service
The Anti-Discrimination Office of the University of Wuppertal is the contact point for students, employees, and members of the university seeking advice. Furthermore, it provides counselling if you are or were affected by discrimination. Counselling is confidential and can be anonymous if required. I also offer collegial advice and support for people and contact points who want to take action against discrimination in their environment. Counselling appointments can be arranged by telephone or email.
Contact:
Nicole Potenza, M.A.
Anti-Discrimination Officer
Room: O.12.08
✆ +49 (0) 202/439-2902
@ antidiskriminierung[at]uni-wuppertal.de
Further internal counselling and complaints offices can be found here
External Counselling Services
Counselling centre for people affected by anti-Semitism, racism and discrimination as well as their relatives and for people who want to take a stand against it.
- Counselling after making an appointment via phone or email -
✆ +49 (0) 211/469 126 26
@ sabra.beratung[at]jgdus.de
OFEK e.V.
OFEK e.V. offers a community-based counselling service specialising in anti-Semitism and provides advice on legal options. Not only people directly affected by anti-Semitic incidents or acts of violence can contact the counselling centre, but also witnesses and relatives. The advice centre focuses on advising young people, families, and students following incidents at school or university, as well as providing specialist advice to schools, universities, and other educational institutions.
✆ +49 (0) 800 664 52 68
✆ +40 (0)176 458 755 32
@ kontakt[at]ofek-beratung.de
Research and Information Centre on Anti-Semitism North Rhine-Westphalia (RIAS NRW)
RIAS is a reporting centre for anti-Semitic incidents and offers counselling upon request. The reported cases are included in state-specific reports on anti-Semitism. RIAS continues to carry out educational and public relations work and thus contributes to the fight against anti-Semitism.
Reporting and Information Centre Network NRW
The DINA, MEDAR, MIQ, and MIRa reporting centres in North Rhine-Westphalia document and analyse cases of discrimination from an intersectional perspective. They aim to make racism and queer hostility visible and thus improve the basis for supporting those affected. As a network of reporting centres, the centres jointly evaluate multidimensional cases of discrimination and apply common evaluation standards to their evaluation practice. The analyses are anonymous. People affected, but also witnesses of racist, queer-hostile, anti-Muslim or antiziganist/anti-Roma attacks or discrimination can come forward.
The reporting centres below are available in English.
DINA - Documentation and Information Center for Antiziganism, Antiromaism, and Discrimination against Sinti and Roma in North Rhine-Westphalia[KR1]
MEDAR - Reporting and documentation centre for anti-Muslim racism
MIRa-NRW - Reporting and information centre for anti-Black, anti-Asian and other forms of racism
Advice centre for anti-discrimination work (Solingen)
Contact point for people affected by racist discrimination, institutions, organisations and associations that are confronted with or deal with the topic and problem of discrimination and racism..
✆ 0 212/287 601
@ ada[at]evangelische-kirche-solingen.de
Victim Counselling Rhineland (Opferberatung Rheinland, OBR)
Counselling and support for victims and their social environment as well as witnesses of right-wing, racist, anti-Semitic and other misanthropic violence in the Rhineland (administrative districts of Cologne and Düsseldorf) after an attack.
✆ +49 (0) 178/8 11 39 00
@ beratung[at]opferberatung-rheinland.de
Mobile counselling against right-wing extremism
The mobile counselling service offers support and advice in the fight against right-wing extremism and for democracy. It helps people to help themselves with problems and uncertainties in dealing with racist, anti-Semitic, anti-feminist or other discriminatory challenges. In Wuppertal, mobile counselling against right-wing extremism is provided by the association Wuppertaler Initiative für Demokratie und Toleranz e.V..
Mobile counselling with regard to right-wing extremism in the administrative district of Düsseldorf
✆ +49 (0) 202-2543006
@ info[at]mbr-duesseldorf.de
Wuppertaler Initiative für Demokratie und Toleranz e.V.
✆ +49 (0) 202-2543005
@ info(at)wuppertaler-initiative.de
Discrimination Service Center at the PLANB Center for Diversity in Herne-Wanne[KR1]
The service centre advises people affected as well as companies, institutions, associations, and authorities wishing to take proactive measures to combat existing discrimination or take preventative action.
The contact point is particularly aimed at affected Roma and Sinti.
✆ +49 (0) 2325 699919-1
✆ +49 (0) 2325 699919-0
@ antidiskriminierung-herne[at]planb-ruhr.de
The counselling centre offers a crisis and information hotline and counselling on coming-out. The counselling is aimed at lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender people, and their families of all ages, and provides advice on coming out, mental and physical health, life crises, relationship issues, partnerships, the desire to have children, rainbow families, educational issues, career issues, ageing, discrimination, violence, legal issues, disabilities, questions from migrants, and questions from transgender people.
Their subpage for reporting a violent crime as well as the subpage for refugees are available in multiple languages.
✆ +49 (0) 234/194 46
The association offers counselling, health promotion, and support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender*, intersexual*, and queer people and groups. Online counselling can be initiated via a chat function.
The association offers community-based counselling for queer people with disabilities, impairments, or chronic illnesses as well as for relatives, professionals, and other interested parties. The website also provides a list of literature on the topic of “queer people with disabilities, impairments, and chronic illnesses”.
@ info@queerhandicap.de
The association offers counselling on pregnancy, sexuality, partnership, and parenthood.
✆ +49 (0) 202 431849
✆ +49 (0) 202 4376162
@ wuppertal[at]profamilia.de
Reporting, Documentation and Information Centres Network NRW
The reporting, documentation and information centres DINA, MEDAR, MIQ, and MIRA in North Rhine-Westphalia document and analyse cases of discrimination from an intersectional perspective. The aim is to make racism and queer hostility visible and thus improve the basis for supporting those affected. As a network of reporting centres, the centres jointly evaluate multidimensional cases of discrimination and apply common evaluation standards to their evaluation practice. The analyses are anonymous. Both victims and witnesses of racist, queer-hostile, anti-Muslim, anti-Roma attacks, or discrimination can come forward.
MIQ – Reporting and Information Portal for anti-LGBTQIA discrimination
The association offers community-based counselling for queer people with disabilities, impairments, or chronic illnesses as well as for relatives, professionals and other interested parties. The website also provides a list of literature on the topic of “queer people with disabilities, impairments and chronic illnesses”.
info[at]queerhandicap.de
The association offers various counselling services and peer counselling (those affected advise those affected), a coordination, contact and counselling centre for people with a disability (KoKoBe) - including the Seele-FREI counselling centre, a service for adults with intellectual disabilities - as well as a supplementary independent participation counselling centre (EUTB), which provides advice on all matters relating to rehabilitation an participation to chronically ill, disabled people and people at risk of disability as well as their families.
Integrationsfachdienst Wuppertal (Specialist integration service Wuppertal)
Counselling for people with (severe) disabilities and for employers on the topic of “Participation in working life”.
✆ +49 (0) 202/2 55 16-0
@ info[at]ifd-wuppertal.de
Sozialpsychatrisches Zentrum (SPZ) Wuppertal (Social Psychiatric Centre Wuppertal)
Counselling and support for people who experience mental distress, illnesses, or disabilities. In addition to counselling, the centre also offers self-help groups, two cafés and events. The centre’s services are also aimed at relatives and friends.
SPZ Elberfeld:
✆ +49 (0) 202/249985-12
SPZ Barmen:
✆ +49 (0) 202/283208-11
Equality and Anti-Discrimination Unit of Wuppertal
The unit offers counselling and actively initiates and supports projects in terms of equality and anti-discrimination. On its website, the unit provides detailed information on measures to create equal opportunities in the city administration, as well as on specific projects and topics. The staff unit also includes the city’s Anti-Discrimination Office.
Equality and Anti-Discrimination Unit of Wuppertal:
✆ +49 (0) 202 563 5067
@ Contact form on the website of the Equality and Anti-Discrimination Unit of Wuppertal
Wuppertal Anti-Discrimination Office:
✆ +49 (0) 202 563 9154
@ antidiskriminierungsstelle[at]stadt.wuppertal.de
The organisation pro familia offers counselling on pregnancy, sexuality, partnership, and parenthood.
✆ +49 (0) 202 431849
✆ +49 (0) 202 4376162
@ wuppertal[at]profamilia.de
Police victim protection aims to do justice to people affected by criminal offences both during and outside of criminal proceedings and to promote trust in cooperation with the investigating authorities. In addition to an understanding approach to the situation of those affected and clear communication of the procedures and victims’ rights, this also includes the provision of offers of help.
Weißer Ring e. V. North Rhine-Westphalia/Rhineland regional office, Wuppertal
Local contact for victim support and crime prevention.
✆ +49 (0) 151/55 164 655
@ wuppertal[at]mail.weisser-ring.de
Support and advice services for victims of abuse of power
The term abuse of power refers to the illegitimate use of power to gain an advantage for oneself (or one’s own group) at the expense of other people. In academic institutions, power is conferred with the aim of ensuring the competent conduct of research, high-quality teaching, the promotion of junior researcher, and the efficient use of resources in the public interest. Abuse occurs when people use their power for their personal interests. In addition to formal positions, power can also be abused through expertise, reputation or networks, although the line between legitimate and illegitimate use is often more difficult to draw. It is often harder to distinguish between justified and unjustified use of this power.
Abuse of power can take various forms, including, e.g., the use of public funds for private purposes or the exploitation of employees, such as through excessive workloads or by exploiting their dependence. Bullying as well as sexual harassment or coercion are serious manifestations of the abuse of power. In an academic context, this phenomenon also includes various forms of research misconduct, for example, plagiarism, i.e., the appropriation of another person’s intellectual property, manipulation or fabrication of data, false attribution of authorship, or the funding of pseudoscientific projects that waste resources and damage the credibility of sciences.
Internal counselling services
The Anti-Discrimination Unit at the University of Wuppertal is the point of contact for students, employees and members of the university seeking advice, and can advise you on issues relating to abuse of power. Counselling is confidential and can also be anonymously if required. Appointments can be made by telephone or email.
Contact:
Nicole Potenza, M.A.
Anti-Discrimination Officer
Room: O.12.08
✆ +49 (0) 202/439-2902
@ antidiskriminierung[at]uni-wuppertal.de
Other internal points of contact:
The Staff Council for Scientific and Artistic Employees (in German available only)
The Staff Council for Administrative and Technical Employees (in German available only)
The Ombudspersons
Counselling services outside the university
As part of the joint declaration of commitment by higher education institutions (Selbstverpflichtungserklärung der nordrhein-westfälischen Hochschulen zum Umgang mit Machtmissbrauch) in North Rhine-Westphalia to address the abuse of power in academia, a central external legal advice service was established. This service is aimed both at those affected by the abuse of power and at internal university bodies dealing with this issue.
The Anti-Discrimination Office commissioned a law firm to implement this legal service. It offers independent, cross-university, initial legal advice. The service aims to support people affected as well as internal university bodies in assessing the legal implications of incidents and to clarify questions regarding possible reporting and complaints procedures. The advisory service is open to all members of public universities in North Rhine-Westphalia. Internal university contact and advisory points, e.g., the university’s equal opportunities officers and anti-discrimination officers, or the advisory centres of the Student Union (AStA) may also offer legal advice.
Key features of the service:
- Confidential, independent, and, upon request, anonymous legal advice (no legal representation, no client-solicitor relationship, no investigation of the facts)
- Information on rights, obligations, and possible complaint procedures, for example under the General Act on Equal Treatment (AGG) or in disciplinary law. The offer includes workshops and training sessions.
- Guidance on further internal and external points of contact
- Support, particularly where internal counselling services are no longer sufficient, or where there is a lack of trust in them
The Legal Advice Centre sees itself as a complementary service which does not replace the university’s internal structures, but rather steps in where these reach their limits.
The lawyers can be contacted by telephone on +49 (0) 221 973 128-53 and by email at info[at]rechtsberatung-machtmissbrauch.nrw.
Further information on the service is available at www.rechtsberatung-machtmissbrauch.nrw. The website is only available in German.
Support and counselling services for victims of online abuse
HateAid
Support and counselling for victims of online hate speech and hate comments
✆ +49 (0) 30 252 08 838
@ beratung[at]hateaid.org
Scicomm-Support
A point of contact for incidents of abuse and unwarranted conflicts in science communication, and a joint initiative of the Bundesverband Hochschulkommunikation (Federal Association for University Communication) and the initiative of the German science and research organisations “Wissenschaft im Dialog” (Science in Dialogue).
Available: 7.00 am – 10.00 pm, 365 days a year
✆ +49 (0) 157 923 448 04
