Collective Teaching Program
Short Introduction to the Project
Recent reforms of sexual offences laws across Europe reveal two converging trends: the increasing adoption of consent-based models, replacing approaches focused on coercion or physical force, and a growing recognition that sexual autonomy can be violated without physical contact, including through online abuse and harassment. In this context, the project “Comparative Perspectives on Sexual Offences Law: From Consent to Sexual Harassment", led by Dr. Matilde Botto (University of Bologna) and Prof. Dr. Bettina Weisser (University of Cologne, Institute for Comparative Criminal Law), seeks to establish an international network of scholars to compare sexual assault and harassment laws from a law reform perspective, fostering sustained, critical, and multidisciplinary dialogue.
Against this background, the project aims to create an international network of scholars working in the field of sexual offences through a Collective Teaching Programme of four thematic meetings. Held in English and organised as workshops, the initiative will allow participation both in person and online. The primary in person audience for the workshops will be PhD students, while the meetings will also be open to in-person participation by team members of the Feminist Law Clinic at the University of Cologne.
The first meeting, scheduled for 17 April 2026, will provide an introductory session, in collaboration with partners from the University of Cologne, on the recent wave of reforms in European sexual assault laws and emerging trends in criminal law and the protection of sexual autonomy. Members of the network will be able to join online and actively take part in the discussion.
The three subsequent meetings will be hybrid workshops. Following a brief in-person introduction, scholars who join the network in response to the forthcoming call will have the opportunity to be selected to deliver short presentations outlining the state of the law in their respective jurisdictions, thereby fostering comparative and multidisciplinary dialogue.
The call is open not only to scholars in criminal law, but also to researchers in the social sciences and criminology across the wider European area, including the United Kingdom.
Details on Workshops
Please note that all presentations and the participation of selected contributors will be held online. The hybrid format applies solely to the audience, who will be physically present in the lecture hall.
Workshop 1 – Date: 24 April 2026
This workshop will examine recent developments in sexual assault law reforms across Europe, particularly those inspired by consent-based models.
It will provide a comparative analysis of the legislative approaches adopted in the latest wave of reforms across EU Member States, focusing on the conceptualisation of consent, evidential standards, and the broader implications for criminal law doctrine, interpretation, and practice.
The workshop will also explore the distinction between sexual assault and sexual harassment, highlighting overlaps and divergences across jurisdictions.
Workshop 2 – Date: 13 May 2026
This workshop will focus on the different models of criminalisation adopted across jurisdictions and the various contexts in which sexual harassment occurs, ranging from the workplace to public spaces and the online environment.
It will examine the wide spectrum of behaviours that may fall under the category of “sexual harassment,” analysing how these are addressed under criminal law in different legal systems.
The session will also consider prevention and intervention strategies implemented outside the criminal justice framework, highlighting complementary approaches to tackling the phenomenon.
Workshop 3 – Date: 20 May 2026
This workshop will address the challenges faced by criminal law in protecting sexual autonomy in the digital environment.
It will examine emerging forms of online abuse and other non-physical violations of sexual autonomy, commonly referred to as technology-facilitated sexual violence and abuse.
Particular attention will be given to the requirements introduced by Directive (EU) 2024/1385 in EU Member States, evaluating the adequacy of existing legal frameworks and exploring potential avenues for reform.
Call for Interest
Download the flyer for this call (PDF)
The project “Comparative Perspectives on Sexual Offences Law: From Consent to Sexual Harassment” invites scholars from criminal law, criminology, and the social sciences to join an international network examining sexual assault and harassment laws across Europe.
We welcome applications from academics of all generations, with particular encouragement for early-career researchers and PhD students based in the wider European area, including the United Kingdom. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in comparative, interdisciplinary dialogue, contribute online to hybrid workshops, and deliver short presentations on the state of the law in their own jurisdictions, with the chance to interact in real time with attendees following the lessons in person.
How to Apply
Interested scholars should submit a brief expression of interest following the form:
Application deadline: 5 April 2026
Review Option
Up to five presentations will be selected for each workshop, based on the following criteria: representation of different European jurisdictions or comparative expertise, an interdisciplinary approach, the relevance and originality of the contribution, its potential to stimulate discussion, and with particular encouragement for early-career researchers.