On December 11, 2025, at 10:00 AM, a presentation meeting was held at Mersin University's Vocational School of Health Services to introduce the Mersin University Sexual Harassment and Assault Support Unit. Academic and administrative staff and students attended the event. The presentation focused on the definitions of sexual harassment and sexual assault, addressing their legal and psychological dimensions. Furthermore, examples of overt and covert retaliation frequently encountered after sexual harassment and assault, as well as the phenomenon of mobbing, were explained in detail. Participants were emphasized that such situations are not only an individual problem but also a societal one. During the event, Research Assistant Dr. Özen KURTULUŞ provided information about the functioning of the Mersin University Sexual Harassment and Assault Support Unit. It was stated that the unit provides psychological and legal support to individuals who have been subjected to sexual harassment or assault, and that confidentiality is given great importance in the application process. Students and staff were encouraged to report any instances of sexual harassment, assault, or mobbing to the unit. The presentation also shared data on women who have experienced sexual assault in Turkey. According to this data, only about 7% of women who have experienced sexual assault report it to the police, 1% to the gendarmerie, while 92% remain silent without reporting the incident to any official authority.

The event concluded with a question-and-answer session, followed by calls to raise awareness among participants and highlight the avenues for reporting incidents. At the end of the event, our College Director, Prof. Dr. Gülay ALTUN UĞRAŞ, presented a certificate of appreciation to Research Assistant Dr. Özen KURTULUŞ.