UGC, UN Women partner to combat sexual violence at universities

UGC and UN Women on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen efforts to prevent and respond to sexual and gender-based violence in varsities.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh and UN Women on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen efforts to prevent and respond to sexual and gender-based violence at tertiary educational institutions across the country.

The agreement was signed at the UGC Auditorium in Dhaka under UN Women’s Ending Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in Public Spaces, Workplaces and Tertiary Educational Settings in Bangladesh (ESGBV) project, funded by the European Union.

The partnership will also support the implementation of the 2009 High Court directives on the prevention of sexual harassment, which require educational institutions and workplaces to establish effective mechanisms to prevent and address such incidents and ensure safe, dignified and respectful environments.

According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics’ (BBS) 2024 National Violence Against Women Prevalence Survey, 16 percent of young women aged 20-24 experienced technology-facilitated gender-based violence in the previous year.

Under the collaboration, UGC and UN Women will work with five public and private universities including Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur; Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST); Khulna University; Daffodil International University; and American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB) — to strengthen institutional capacity to prevent and address gender-based violence, including sexual harassment, on campuses.

UGC Chairperson Professor Dr Mamun Ahmed and five members of the UGC Executive Committee, vice-chancellors and representatives of the five participating universities, representatives of the European Union and UN Women, and other stakeholders attended the signing ceremony.

Prof Mamun Ahmed stressed the importance of collective action to ensure safe and enabling environments for students and staff at higher education institutions.

“True academic excellence can never be achieved in an environment where fear, harassment and discrimination exist,” he said, stressing that universities must remain spaces where students, particularly women, can pursue their aspirations without fear of gender-based violence.

Representing the European Union, Deputy Head of Delegation and Head of Political, Economic, Trade, Press and Information Section Baiba Zarina said the partnership could help translate standards into practice, strengthen institutions and ensure that students and staff have confidence that their concerns will be heard and addressed.

UN Women Representative Gitanjali Singh underscored the importance of strong institutional systems, accountability and coordinated action to prevent violence against women and girls.

“Safe campuses are essential for young women and girls to pursue their education and aspirations,” she said, calling for safer learning and working environments free from harassment and violence.

A discussion moderated by Shrabana Datta, Ending Violence Against Women Unit Manager at UN Women, highlighted commitments from the vice-chancellors of the participating universities.

Under the ESGBV project, UN Women and its civil society partner Ain o Salish Kendra will work with the universities to strengthen internal complaint committees and institutional mechanisms, improve reporting and referral systems, and raise awareness among students and staff.

The partnership is expected to contribute to creating university campuses across Bangladesh where students and staff can learn, work and participate in campus life free from sexual harassment and gender-based violence.

SUST Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Md Khairul Islam, project implementing task team convenor Dr Mohammad Sayful Islam, Khulna University sexual harassment prevention committee president Professor Mst Taslima Khatun, Begum Rokeya University Vice Chancellor Md Showkat Ali, AIUB Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Saiful Islam, representatives Farheen Hassan and Nazia Farhana, and Daffodil International University Vice Chancellor Professor Dr M R Kabir and sexual harassment prevention committee chairperson Professor Dr Sharifa Sultana were present at the ceremony. - UNB