Ensure our varsities are safe from sexual harassment - Gerak

Academician group Gerak has urged the Higher Education Ministry to do more to ensure that tertiary learning institutions protect and support survivors of sexual harassment.

This comes after national diver Pandelela Rinong recalled being bullied when she previously called out a former coach for making lewd jokes.

In a statement today, Gerak drew parallels between the Olympian’s experience and occurrences at some universities.

“There have been reported cases of universities evidently protecting the perpetrators instead of taking action against them.

“In one case, the victim made a police report but was asked by the vice-chancellor, no less, to retract the report,” the group said.

When questioned about her motives, Pandelela had said it was to embolden other survivors to speak up against sexual harassment.

National diver Pandelela Rinong

Gerak called on the ministry to ensure universities step up and take sexual harassment reports seriously, enforce sexual harassment policies and redress mechanisms, plus provide counselling to survivors.

“Gerak would like to remind the Higher Education Ministry to immediately implement this reform to provide a safe environment in all institutions of higher learning.

“All universities need to have clear sexual harassment policies and redress mechanisms in place. These must be disseminated widely and more importantly, enforced.

“Gerak is of the view that our universities have failed miserably in this regard and that the ministry thus far has been disappointingly inert,” it remarked.

The group further called for these efforts to be expanded to all government ministries and agencies.

'Expedite tabling of Sexual Harassment Bill'

“Gerak calls on all ministries and government agencies to immediately take every report of sexual abuse and violence seriously, via thorough investigations.

“Gerak also urges this government to ensure all government officials are from now on regularly schooled on issues related to sexual abuse and violence by compulsorily mandating their attendance at awareness training programmes,” it said.

The group urged the government to expedite the tabling of the long-awaited Sexual Harassment Bill and to finally break the culture of silence around sexual harassment.

“It is high time that Malaysian lawmakers took the Sexual Harassment Bill seriously and that its tabling should not be delayed any further…

“Gerak believes that whenever they are ready, survivors should not be discouraged from speaking up. We together must raise awareness on sexual harassment, abuse and violence – painful issues that have been swept under the carpet for far too long,” it said.

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Rina Harun has vowed that the Sexual Harassment Bill will be tabled in the current Dewan Rakyat session. - Mkini