Students empowered on sexual harassment, gender-based violence

Students from various educational institutions in Tamale have been empowered to speak up against sexual harassment and gender-based violence to create safe spaces on campuses.

The students were taken through the mechanisms to assess assistance and also report cases of sexual harassment and gender-based violence to the appropriate authorities for action.

The workshop was on the theme: "Safe Spaces: Preventing Sexual Harassment on Campus". It was organised by the Perfector of Sentiments (POS) Foundation, in collaboration with the Centre for Gender and Career Mentorship of the University for Development Studies (UDS),  SWIDA Ghana and OXFAM, with funding support from AmplifyChange, a UK-based donor.

Participants included students from the University of Development Studies (UDS), Tamale Technical University (TaTU), Tamale Girls Senior High School and academicians with expertise in sexual harassment and gender-based violence.

Speaking at the event, the Project Officer in charge of Gender and Inclusion at POS Foundation, Precious Klu, pointed out that the primary objective of the workshop was to raise awareness of the importance of preventing sexual harassment and promoting a culture of safety and accountability on campuses.

She said although sexual harassment was prevalent in educational institutions, many cases go unreported due to fear and lack of clear reporting mechanisms.

“There is limited research on the prevalence of sexual harassment in schools, but findings indicate that a significant number of students have experienced harassment.

In 2018, I came across an article that reported nearly 60 per cent of students had been victims of sexual harassment.

Our goal is to see this number significantly reduced, or eliminated," she stated.

sexual harassment 

Ms Klu added that sexual harassment was often perpetrated by peers, lecturers and other academic staff, with many victims often remaining silent due to fear of retaliation or lack of trust in the system.

She stressed that “when students fear speaking up, the cycle of abuse continues. It is important to empower them to report these incidents to stop the impunity. Speaking up not only protects the victim but helps educate others who may not realise their actions are harmful".

She, therefore, encouraged students to pursue their dreams without fear, urging them to report any form of abuse they may encounter.

For his part, the Director of the Guidance and Counselling Centre at UDS, Dr Alale Amos Asamari, emphasised the university’s commitment to tackling sexual harassment.

“Sexual harassment is more common than most students realise, and often, behaviours that constitute harassment are brushed off due to ignorance or social norms.

But the discomfort and trauma it causes—especially to female students—must not be overlooked," he said.

He highlighted the university's existing policies on sexual harassment, including the establishment of four dedicated committees that handle investigations and disciplinary actions.

Dr Asamari mentioned the launch of a reporting application that allows students to report incidents anonymously and directly to the responsible authorities.

“We have a zero-tolerance policy on sexual harassment.

Students must feel safe to report such cases, and we are here to support them every step of the way," he said.

Writer's email: mohammed.fugu@graphic.com.gh