Sexual harassment is a critical issue that often goes unaddressed, especially in educational settings where students might not fully understand what constitutes harassment or how to protect themselves. To combat this, Youth for Policy (YfP) launched an important initiative focused on raising awareness among students about sexual harassment—what it is, how to identify it, and what actions they can take if they experience or witness it.
This campaign was conducted across 20 districts in Bangladesh, reaching even the most underserved communities, including the remote tea gardens of Sreemangal, the coastal regions like Barguna, and the hilly areas of Bandarban. This initiative aimed to create safer educational environments by forming Sexual Harassment Complaint Committees, educating students and teachers on legal protections, and engaging local authorities to enforce existing laws. In all 20 districts where the campaign took place, Sexual Harassment Complaint Committees were established to ensure sustainable action against harassment.
Sexual harassment remains a significant challenge in educational institutions across Bangladesh, particularly in rural and marginalized areas where awareness about legal rights is low, and institutional mechanisms for addressing harassment are often absent. The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention) Act, 2009, defines sexual harassment and mandates the establishment of committees for addressing complaints in workplaces, including educational settings, ensuring a legal framework is in place to protect victims and hold perpetrators accountable.
From January 20 to February 12, 2025, YfP Committees conducted interactive awareness sessions and established Anti-Harassment Committees in 21 schools and colleges across 20 districts. These sessions engaged 1,007 participants, including 526 men, 481 women, and 0.9% identifying as others. The participants comprised students, teachers, guardians, lawyers, and human rights activists.
Despite overwhelming support from students and civil society, the initiative faced institutional resistance in some schools and bureaucratic delays in forming complaint committees. Many school administrations were reluctant to acknowledge the urgency of implementing harassment prevention policies. In some cases, officials downplayed the issue or avoided formal discussions. However, YfP volunteers continued their advocacy efforts, working with local government representatives and education boards to push for policy compliance with both the legal mandates and best practices for creating safer school environments.
Looking ahead, YfP plans to scale up its efforts by ensuring regular monitoring of Sexual Harassment Complaint Committees, launching digital awareness campaigns, and strengthening collaborations with policymakers to institutionalize gender-sensitive policies nationwide. A key focus will be on expanding the initiative to more hard-to-reach areas, ensuring that all students—regardless of their geographic location or socio-economic background—have access to a safe and supportive learning environment. These efforts align with IID’s broader mission of fostering youth-led policy advocacy and sustainable social reform.
Additionally, YfP volunteers conducted interviews with teachers to gain insights into gender-based violence (GBV) and the process of forming Anti-Harassment Complaint Committees in educational institutions. By empowering young leaders, raising awareness, and holding institutions accountable, YfP remains committed to building a future where every student in Bangladesh can pursue education without fear of harassment or discrimination.