Policy needed to stop sexual harassment on campus

Speakers tell roundtable

12 May 2010, 18:00 PM

Staff Correspondent

Meher Afroz Chumki MP speaks at a discussion on 'Formulating a guideline for educational institutions to stop sexual harassment' at the National Press Club in the city yesterday. On her left is former adviser to the caretaker government Rasheda K Chowdhury and on her right is Prof Abdullah Abu Sayeed. Photo: STAR

Speakers at a roundtable yesterday said, apart from raising awareness about social problems, policy for educational institutions needs to be devised and carried out to stop sexual harassment. The roundtable on “Formulation of policy to stop sexual harassment in educational institutions” was held at VIP Lounge, Jatiya Press Club in the city, organized by Action Aid in association with National Girl Child Advocacy Forum and Shaptahik 2000. Law needs to be formulated and put into practice strictly to stop sexual harassment in educational institutions and other workplaces, said renowned educationist Prof Abdullah Abu Sayeed. Sayeed was speaking as the chief guest at the discussion. If a teacher harasses any student sexually or by any means in any institute, he will have no right to be in the profession, and this should be prohibited by policy and rules, he added. Rasheda K Chowdhury, former advisor to caretaker government, said local government can also play a significant role in stopping such harassment in educational institutions and thus ensuring the security of a girl child. According to lawyer and human rights activist Sara Hossain, society should openly raise its voice against this harassment as it frequently occurs in the academic institutions, committed by the teachers. She also said sexual harassment in educational institution often goes under political clout which is one of the biggest obstacles to eradicate the problem. On the other hand an allegation of sexual harassment made by a victim should not be forced to be proved. A sound judgment should decide, whether on the balance of probabilities, the incident has occurred. This can secure a girl's position against sexual harassment, she added. Lawmaker Meher Afroz Chumki also talked about the parents' responsibility to guide their children against stalking and make them aware about sexual harassment. The exemplary punishment should be imposed to remove such nuisance, she said. Psychologist Farida Akhter, Project Director Dr Abul Hossain of Multi Sectoral Programme in preventing women repression, Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, among others, spoke.