Harassment epidemic in KP universities
Editorial
The recent incident of harassment at Women University Mardan, where a security officer was involved in harassing a female student, has sent shockwaves throughout Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. This incident comes on the heels of a similar incident at the University of Malakand, where a teacher was accused of harassing a female student. These incidents raise serious questions about the performance of university administrations and Higher Education Department in ensuring a safe and secure environment for female students.
The fact that such incidents are occurring in the institutions of higher studies, which are supposed to be the centers of knowledge and enlightenment, is a tragic reflection of Pakhtun society. It is even more disturbing that these incidents are happening in universities that are supposed to be safe spaces for women.
The suspension of the security officer involved in the incident at Women University Mardan is a welcome step, but it is only a small part of the solution. The fact remains that harassment is a pervasive problem in Pakistani society, and it will take more than just suspending individual perpetrators to address it.
The question that needs to be asked is: What are the university administrations and Higher Education Department doing to prevent such incidents from happening in the first place? Are they taking adequate measures to create a safe and secure environment for female students? Are they providing adequate training and resources to staff and faculty to recognize and prevent harassment?
Furthermore, where are other institutions and authorities that are supposed to protect women from harassment? Why are women being harassed without any fear of law and punishment? The fact that such incidents are happening with impunity suggests that there is a systemic failure to address this pressing issue.
In this regard, it is imperative that the KP government must take immediate action to address this tragic situation. This includes providing adequate resources and training to university administrations and staff, as well as strengthening laws and regulations to prevent harassment. It also includes ensuring that perpetrators are given exemplary punishment and victims are provided with adequate support, protection and justice.
It is also to be noted that the people of KP demand accountability, and protection for their women at universities. They also demand that the universities should be made safe spaces for all the students, regardless of gender by holding the perpetrators accountable and protecting the victims. Therefore, the provincial government should take immediate action to address this burning issue and ensure that harassment is eradicated from all universities once and for all.
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