Yale School of Public Health

Global Internship Orientations

Training Scenarios

February 2016

Sexual Harassment

  1. A colleague employed by your host institution in Country X has been making verbal and physical advances during your interactions both on campus and out in the field. You are uncomfortable and not sure how to interpret the colleague’s actions or how to respond as you do not want to cause offense or misunderstanding. You also have been surprised and uneasy about catcalls and advances you have received from strangers when you’re just out walking around town.
  • What should you do about the colleague? About the strangers?
  • What resources are available to help you?

Transportation Safety

  1. You and your colleagues in Country Y need to get to your work site on a day that standard transportation is unavailable.
  • How do you find safe transportation?
  • What resources are available to help you?

Corruption

  1. Your research requires local IRB approval, and the approval process seems to have stalled. A local colleague tells you that the approval can move more quickly and extends a hand, palm up. You conclude the colleague is suggesting a bribe.
  • What should you do?
  • What resources are available to help you?

Scenario Training Discussion Leader Guide

Sexual Harassment

  1. A colleague employed by your host institution in Country X has been making verbal and physical advances during your interactions both on campus and out in the field. You are uncomfortable and not sure how to interpret the colleague’s actions or how to respond as you do not want to cause offense or misunderstanding. You also have been surprised and uneasy about catcalls and advances you have received from strangers when you’re just out walking around town.
  • What should you do about the colleague? About the strangers?
  • What resources are available to help you?

Issues:

-Importance of learning prior to your travel about local culturalnorms in your host country (including gender relations, appropriate dress, popular perceptions of westerners, etc.).

-Though you are a guest in another culture and want to honor/respect their practices and traditions and enjoy the benefits of seeing the world through others’ eyes,that does not mean you need to submit to behaviors that invade your personal boundaries, or make you feel uncomfortable or unsafe. Trust your instincts, honor your own comfort levels, and take appropriate steps to assure your personal safety.

-Possible ways to handle this scenario: depending on your personal preference and level of comfort you may (i) politely but firmly say something to the colleague so s/he understands their behavior is not welcome; (ii) request help from a host country mentor, advisor, or other local colleague with whom you feel comfortable discussing the issue (including making sure you’re not alone with the colleague); (iii) request guidance from one of the available resources at Yale (listed below).

-It is important that you also contact your home program office at Yale to let them know what is happening and for assistance and support.

Resources:

-Local resources to help understand and manage the situation may include advisors or supervisors at the host institution,ex-pat Americans or others, or native colleagues/friends from whom you feel comfortable requesting guidance.

-Yale resources include:

  • Your Yale advisor or other mentor;
  • The Sexual Harassment and Assault Response & Education (SHARE) Center at Yale Health: or 203-432-2000;
  • The Title IX Coordinator for your school; and/or
  • Yale Security: 203-785-5555.

-International Toolkit (see the Learning about your Destination section of the travel):


Transportation Safety

  1. You and your colleagues in Country Y need to get to your work site on a day that standard transportation is unavailable.
  • How do you find safe transportation?
  • What resources are available to help you?

Issues:

-Transportation is one of the highest safety risks for international travelers (along with water accidents):

  • Yale policy prohibits use of 12- and 15- passenger vans by Yale travelers due to the high rate of rollover crashes.
  • Renting vehicles overseas is also not recommended due to dangerous road conditions, vehicle malfunctions, local driving practices and pedestrian habits, travelers’ lack of familiarity with roads and conditions, differences in laws and regulations (can be more severe), and corruption.

-Learn about your destination before you travel (destination resources on Toolkit).

-Better options are to use public transportation, a licensed taxi, or contract with a transportation service. Local hotels may be a good resource for arranging safe travel or recommending safe options.

-Use seatbelts.

Resources:

-Visit the Association for Safe International Road Travel (ASIRT) website (via Yale’s International Toolkit): for information about local transportation options and road conditions.

-UHC Global Member Website for guidance on security concerns at your destination:

-Toolkit guidance on risks related to overseas vehicle rentals:

-Contact Yale’s Enterprise Risk Management Office ().

-International Toolkit (see the Learning about your Destination section of the travel):

Corruption

  1. Your research requires local IRB approval, and the approval process seems to have stalled. A local colleague tells you that the approval can move more quickly and extends a hand, palm up. You conclude the colleague is suggesting a bribe.
  • What should you do?
  • What resources are available to help you?

Issues

-Research your destination before you travel. Understand local cultural norms and to what extent corruption, whether related to your professional or everyday activities,may deserve increased attention and awareness.

-This scenario presents a bold example of a corrupt practice;an actual situation might be more nuanced and difficult to interpret.

-Even if you are told such practices are common locally in order to get something done, do not follow along. Speak to your Yale advisor or mentor, and/or your program advisor at the host institution if appropriate, for guidance. You should not, and are not expected to, handle difficult situations alone.

-Yale’s standards for the conduct of research apply no matter where you are.

-Local and U.S. anti-bribery laws may also apply and carry significant penalties. While you are visiting another country, you are subject to that country’s laws even though you are not one of its citizens. Learn about your destination country and relevant laws before you travel (see the “learning about your destination” section of the International Toolkit).

Resources

-Contact Alyssa Greenwald in Yale’s Office of the General Counsel, for help with understanding the nuances and ramifications, legal and otherwise, of any situation overseas involving potential or actual corruption: .

-Your advisor or mentor at Yale: do not hesitate to call them for guidance and support.

-Office of Research Administration’s Conducting Research Internationally page: .

-Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index: - annual measure of perceived levels of public sector corruption in 175 countries.

-International Toolkit (see the Academic and Research Travel Tips and Learning about your Destination sections of the travel orientations as well as the overview of Anti-Bribery laws in the U.S. and overseas):

.