Sexual harassment remains a significant problem in educational institutions in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with victims expressing dissatisfaction with the handling of complaints by internal committees, as per local media reports.
Many complainants face pressure, intimidation, and silence from institutions instead of receiving the necessary protection, leading them to either retract their complaints or stay silent to safeguard their future, The Express Tribune highlighted.
Despite the existence of laws like the Protection Against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act, 2010, which mandates the formation of harassment committees in institutions to address complaints fairly, the enforcement of these laws appears to be lacking, as reported cases of harassment continue to emerge.
Victims have reported that harassment committees often side with influential faculty members, leaving the victims feeling isolated and unsupported. The repercussions of harassment complaints in educational settings have been severe, with some students experiencing significant psychological distress and even resorting to suicide in extreme cases.
