Scientific Articles

Mutinta, G. (2022). Gender-based violence among female students and implications for health intervention programmes in public universities in Eastern Cape, South Africa. Cogent Social Sciences, 8(1), 2079212. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2022.2079212

Steele, B., Degli Esposti, M., Mandeville, P., Hamnett, G., Nye, E., & Humphreys, D. K. (2021). Sexual violence among students attending a higher education institution in the UK (OUR SPACE): A cross-sectional survey. The Lancet, 398(Supplement 1), S83. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(21)02626-X

Valls, R., Puigvert, L., Melgar, P., & Garcia-Yeste, C. (2016). Breaking the silence at Spanish universities: Findings from the first study of violence against women on campuses in Spain. Violence Against Women, 22(13), 1519–1539. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077801215627511

Explanation of the Post

Scientific research can have a real impact on people’s lives when it leads to changes that improve society based on Scientific evidence of social impact. This happens when the findings of a study are used to guide decisions, whether by governments, institutions, or citizens themselves, and those decisions result in positive outcomes. These improvements often reflect shared social goals, like safety, equality, or access to education. At the heart of this idea is a basic human right: everyone should be able to learn about scientific progress and benefit from it. This is clearly stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which says that all people have the right to take part in cultural life and enjoy the benefits of science.

Making sure that reliable scientific information is available to everyone is essential, especially when it comes to fighting misinformation and harmful hoaxes. This is particularly important in areas like gender-based violence, where research has helped identify ways to support victims and prevent abuse, especially within universities and other educational institutions. Raising awareness among all members of the university community—students, professors, and staff—is a key step. People need to know what the evidence says about gender-based violence, not just in their own institution but also in others across the country and internationally. It’s also important to understand the protocols and reporting systems that are based on this evidence, so that victims know where to turn and institutions know how to respond effectively.

But beyond knowing the facts, what truly matters is the impact this research has had in real life. That means looking at how universities and other institutions have successfully protected victims, what strategies they used, and what helped survivors move forward with their studies or careers. These stories show how science can make a difference, not just in theory, but in practice, by helping people overcome violence and rebuild their lives.

Other sources

Ali, M. A., Semahegn, A., Ashenafi, W., & Legesse, H. (2024). Workplace gender-based violence among female staff in public higher education institutions in eastern Ethiopia: Institution-based cross-sectional study. PLOS Global Public Health, 4(7), e0003489. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0003489

Franklin-Corben, P., & Towl, G. (2023). Responding to gender-based violence in higher education: Changes as a function of COVID-19. Journal of Aggression, Conflict and Peace Research, 15(3), 216–220. https://doi.org/10.1108/JACPR-06-2022-0721

Flecha, R. (2014). Definition of scientific evidence of social impact [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License]. CREA Research. https://archive.org/details/@crea_research

Hewett, M., Butler-Kruger, L., Foflonker, K., Edge, J., Botha, M. H., & Seedat, S. (2023). Desktop analysis and qualitative investigation of programmes and initiatives for the prevention of and response to gender-based violence at South African universities with medical campuses. South African Journal of Higher Education, 37(5), 142–157. https://journals.co.za/doi/10.10520/37-5-5181

Serradell, O., & Puigvert, L. (2025). Overcoming sexual harassment at university: The case of the training intervention in the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Behavioral Sciences, 15(5), Article 596. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15050596

United Nations General Assembly. (1948). Universal declaration of human rights. United Nations. https://www.un.org/en/about-us/universal-declaration-of-human-rights

Vázquez Laba, V., & Pérez Tort, M. (2023). Feminist movement and gender policies in the Argentine university system. Astrolabio – Nueva Época, 30, 93–111. https://doi.org/10.55441/1668.7515.n30.33037