Sabine Oertelt-Prigione

"The WPP (watch - protect - prevent) study represents the first and only research project in Germany towards the development and implementation of a workplace policy against sexual harassment in the clinical work environment. The WPP study has offered Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin the opportunity to be at the forefront of the investigation of the topic and to apply the indications of the German AGG law (general equal treatment act). 

The study was performed in the years 2014 to 2016 and generated three catagories of data: qualitative data from individual interviews (focus: prevention), qualitative data through a large internet-based survey (focus: incidence) and comparative data from other organisations for the development of institutional prevention offers (focus: implementation).

Linking the data has allowed the development of a workplace policy which is both specifically targeted towards Charité and participatory in nature. This instrument will allow the prevention of sexual harassment at all organisational levels. The developed documents will be of use for other clinical setting and beyond the medical field.

Through the involvement of our supporters, Stiftung Charité, the Hans Böckler Foundation and the BCP (equal opportunity program of the city of Berlin) we could develop a comprehensive program for prevention. The first results of our study could be presented in cooperation with the Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency in a workshop at the Federal Ministry of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth in July 2016."