On Wednesday, female students of Islamia College University in Peshawar protested against increasing harassment cases by professors of the university on campus. They demanded the admin to take strict actions against the guilty. A large number of male students also attended the protest side by side and supported the demands made by female students during the rally.
Slogans were chanted during the rally by male and female students that was held on campus from Ahmed Faraz Block towards the office of the vice-chancellor. They said, not only teachers, but male students also passed filthy remarks and blocked their way. No one can concentrate on obtaining knowledge when the environment of the university is hostile.
The girls said that they are seeking ‘justice’ from the administration, ‘war’ will continue till women are harassed, and ‘harassers must be hanged’. Many students also walked with placards inscribed with different slogans against the campus harassers.
The women present in the rally said that the administration must set up a system where complaints can be made to a focal person regarding harassment cases taking place on campus. A committee that is already formed in the university has not taken any action against the guilty as yet of existing complaints.
Under the law, Article #509 of PPC harassment in public/working space is legally proscribed & the offender can be punished up to 3 years imprisonment or fined Rs 500,000.
Today students of #IslamiaCollege have arranged a walk against harassment in their University. After amendment in 2010 to Article #509 of PPC #harassment in public/working space is legally proscribed & the offender can be punished up to 3 years imprisonment or fined Rs 500,000 pic.twitter.com/zYAAfqWjL6
— Sanna Ejaz(سیاله) (@sanaejaz2) November 11, 2020
During my Islamia College days I am also witness of such incidents, one of my female friends and a teacher has same story. The suspended VC is one of the victimizers in a case also
— Asif Yassal (@Asifali_95) November 11, 2020
This is the very first time that women in the area have come together and protested against the harassment.
Today female students protested against teachers harassment at the very famous Islamia College, #Peshawar.
I consider this a new paradigm in Pashtun society, because this is the very first time that female stood for own-self in education institutions. pic.twitter.com/3Bf0inT7nG— Shafeeq Gigyani (𐨭𐨥𐨅 𐨒𐨁𐨒𐨩𐨣𐨁) (@ShafeeqGigyani) November 11, 2020
Aurat March Lahore also tweeted on the matter and highlighted the issue
We’re incredibly inspired by the brave students of Islamia College University for highlighting the systemic issue of sexual harassment on campuses across the country. #metoo 1/3https://t.co/D35jqna2Ps
— عورت مارچ لاہور – Aurat March Lahore (@AuratMarch) November 12, 2020
Students have suffered for far too long, from the unauthorised surveillance and blackmailing of students in the University of Balochistan to young students from schools in Lahore.
They will no longer choose silence! #metoo #saynotosexualharassment 2/3https://t.co/AjbshSnCOl— عورت مارچ لاہور – Aurat March Lahore (@AuratMarch) November 12, 2020
Students face insurmountable barriers: an imbalance of power, institutional failure to institute meaningful & gender-sensitive redressal mechanisms and defamation lawsuits for simply speaking out. #sexualharassment #metoo #decriminalisedefamation 3/3https://t.co/5PkJ57Cef8
— عورت مارچ لاہور – Aurat March Lahore (@AuratMarch) November 12, 2020
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