UN Women starts anti-harassment campaign in univs

The UN Women Bangladesh yesterday launched a new project with a two-day long workshop in the capital's Bangabandhu International Convention Center to address sexual harassment in four universities, said a UN Women press release.

The workshop will help build links between teachers, staff and students of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet), Rajshahi University, Shahjahan University and Jahangirnagar University.

Besides, different activities, including dialogues and discussions, will be held to increase knowledge on sexual harassment prevention committee where students can complain, anonymously if needed.

For female students, it is about knowing where they can get support while male students need to know what is not acceptable, how they can support their peers, and what positive masculinity means in the context of a learning environment, said Mahtabul Hakim, UN Women's coordinator, Ending Violence against Women.

In 2009, the High Court issued landmark directives on the prevention of sexual harassment in workplaces, educational institutions and public places, but sexual harassment in universities is still common. And according to UN Women Bangladesh's 2013 situational analysis in eight universities, 76 percent of female students had faced sexual harassment.

This project is being implemented jointly with the Bangladesh National Women's Lawyers Association, under the aegis of the University Grants Commission, with the cooperation of vice chancellors of the universities, and with the support of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency.

The campaign also looks forward to formulating a plan to implement the High Court guidelines at those universities.