Equality

Harassment & Equality in Pörssi

Equality in Pörssi ry

Equality is the right and duty of every member of Pörssi.

Pörssi ry is obliged to promote equality in its operations, therefore the promotion of equality is part of Pörssi ry’s strategy 2026 along the Pörssi spirit, as well as the action plan of Pörssi’s board.

Pörssi ry wants to guarantee everyone as safe a space as possible for studying and belonging to the community. We strive to guarantee this for everyone by following the Code of Conduct by Suomen Ekonomit.

The Equality Representatives

Pörssi ry has four Equality Representatives who provide support to students who encounter harassment or other inappropriate behavior. Anyone who has experienced harassment, sexual harassment, bullying, discrimination, racism, or any other form of unequal treatment may contact them to seek advice and assistance in resolving the situation.

They do not act as judges in these situations; rather, they assist in processing the matter, provide access to a safe space, and support the individual throughout the process. All discussions and contacts are strictly confidential, and Equality Representatives are bound by a duty of confidentiality. No action will be taken without the explicit consent of the person concerned.

The presence of Equality Representatives at events enhances participants’ sense of safety and also helps organizers develop more inclusive events where all members feel comfortable participating. In addition, Equality Representatives act as promoters of equality and monitor the realization of equality within Pörssi ry’s activities.

Equality Representatives can primarily be contacted via email at any time, but they are also available at events or in person if you happen to meet them.

Equality Committee

The Equality Committee consists of Pörssi’s Equality Representatives. The committee is formed to be as diverse as possible, taking into account factors such as gender, ethnicity, religion, and sexual identity.

To ensure the safety of members, the Equality Representatives convene to review every reported or observed case of harassment. Despite these discussions, the process always proceeds on the terms of the person affected, and no actions are taken if the person who experienced harassment does not wish so.

For the Equality Committee to be quorate, at least two (2) out of the four (4) members must be present. If the committee is not quorate (for example, only one eligible member is available), it may be temporarily supplemented on a case-by-case basis by, for example, the Chairperson or Vice president of Pörssi’s Board.

Contact information for the Pörssi ry’s equality representatives:

How to act in a harassment situation?

1. Intervene and Support

Interrupt the situation: If you observe harassment, try to stop it immediately. Quick action demonstrates that our organization has zero tolerance for any form of harassment.

Check on the person: Ask the person targeted by the harassment if they are okay and how they experienced the situation you witnessed.

Be present: The most important thing is to listen and show support. You do not need to be an expert—it is enough to be human to another human.

If the situation is ongoing or you witnessed it directly, the priority is to stop the inappropriate behavior and ensure the victim’s safety.

2. Set Boundaries

Clearly and firmly, but politely and without provoking, communicate to the person behaving inappropriately that their actions are not acceptable and ask them to stop.

Example: You hear someone use the word “gay” as an insult toward a friend. You could respond, for example:
“That’s not okay—someone’s sexual orientation is not an insult.”

Ask for help: If intervening feels difficult or intimidating, ask any board member or other responsible person for assistance. Please report the matter anonymously unless you have the victim’s permission to share their name.

3. Act on the Victim’s Terms

Respect autonomy: Listen to the victim’s wishes regarding further action. Encourage them to take the matter forward, but do not make reports or take further steps against their will.

Document: Record the time, place, and a brief description of the incident. This will help if the matter is addressed later.

4. Report the Incident

Even if the situation is resolved, inform the Equality Officers or the event organizer. Remember to respect anonymity: only share the victim’s name if you have their explicit permission.

In urgent or severe situations, contact emergency services directly (112).

Ultimately, in every situation, the most important thing is to be present and willing to listen and engage in conversation. Remember that you can always contact the Equality Officers or any board member if you need help or want to discuss harassment-related matters. Every member of Pörssi has the right to feel safe in our activities.

Who else can help?

Harassment contact persons of the University of Jyväskylä student union: In addition to the equality representatives of the Pörssi ry, it is possible to contact JYY’s harassment contact persons. JYY has three harassment contact persons who offer support to students who have encountered harassment, bullying, racism, discrimination or other inappropriate treatment. Conversations with contact persons are strictly confidential, and no measures of any kind are taken without the permission of the person who has experienced inappropriate treatment. JYY’s harassment contact persons have appropriate training to investigate harassment situations.

Karri Kekkonen karri.kekkonen@jyy.fi +358 50 338 7655
Suvi Liukkonen suvi.liukkonen@jyy.fi +358 45 137 1961
Petro Pitkänen petro.pitkanen@jyy.fi +358 50 430 6747
General: messages sent to this hairinta@jyy.fi email will be forwarded to all JYY’s harassment contact persons.

MIELI ry’s Crisis Hotline, which is on call 24/7: If a victim who has experienced harassment is upset or needs urgent conversational help that you are unable to provide yourself, you can urge them to contact MIELI ry’s Crisis Hotline. The crisis line is on duty 24 hours a day, every day. Calls are confidential and anonymous.

MIELI ry’s Crisis Hotline: 09 2525 0111

Students of Color Jyväskylä: a student community in Jyväskylä focused on anti-racism and the empowerment of POC students.

Contacts: @socojyvaskyla in Instagram.

Help from the authorities:

Acute life-threatening situation or situation requiring help from the authorities: Call the emergency number: 112
Impaired physical or mental health: Apply to the nearest emergency room.
Acute crisis help in a traumatic crisis situation (i.e. a sudden or surprising event that could not have been prepared for, e.g. becoming a victim of violence or crime, attempted suicide by a loved one): Central Finland Social and Crisis Emergency 014 266 0149

Equality means that everybody has the same worth regardless of their sex, age, ethnical or national heritage, nationality, language, religion, opinion, disabilities, health status, sexual orientation, or other personal related reasons. – Guide to Equality in youth and sports organizations

Pörssi ry’s Principles for a Safer Space

★ We respect the personal physical and psychological integrity and autonomy of others. We cannot know the limits of others without asking. What is comfortable for you may be uncomfortable for someone else. We give you the opportunity to say no, and you don’t have to justify saying it.

★ We do not harass anyone verbally, by touching or staring. We do not tolerate discriminatory, derogatory or hostile behaviour in any way.

★ We do not make assumptions based on appearance or background. We try to be aware of our own assumptions and respect others as human beings over our own prejudices.

★ We will intervene to stop inappropriate behaviour. If we encounter harassment or discrimination, we will take it forward with a low threshold. Equality representatives, other board members or event organisers will be there to support you in any situation.

★ If we find someone who is unwell, we will never leave them alone. We take care of them or make sure someone else does.

★ We give others space to be heard and involved in discussions. We do not pressure others to behave in any way, but allow everyone to be exactly who they want to be.

★ We apologise if we have offended others. We understand that everyone can make mistakes and mistakes can happen. We dare to ask and learn, and we encourage others to do the same.

Let’s make Pörssi a place where everyone can enjoy themselves <3