Bill protecting students from sexual harassment backed
Amid many incidents of harassment of female students at educational institutions, especially universities, a Senate committee in Pakistan has passed an act this month that, once it becomes law, promises swifter action and stricter punishment of perpetrators of harassment through speedy trials of cases.
The 12-member Standing Committee on Education of Pakistan’s Senate or upper house of parliament on 13 January passed the “Protection against Harassment of Students in Educational Institutions Bill 2020”, originally moved by Senator Javed Abbasi (Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz) in the Senate in August last year, to provide a safer environment in institutions and enable criminal proceedings to be launched against teachers and others charged with harassment.