Sexual Harassment Prevention Innovation in Higher Learning Institutions
Written By Thobekile Masilela
Implementation Period
Funders
Implementing Partners
Stakeholders and Collaborating Partner
Goal of The Project
A measurable reduction in violence against women/girls, ensuring women/girls in HEIs and other marginalized groups are free from sexual harassment and violence.
Target Beneficiaries
Target Audience – HEI (UNESWA)
Primary Targets – Women and girls in all their diversities
Secondary Beneficiaries: Duty Bearers in HEIs and Education Sector
Target Communities
Project Activities
Women Unlimited and Bantwana is implementing a Club-based Peer-Driven Social Asset-Building intervention to address sexual harassment in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Eswatini, initially focusing on the University of Eswatini (UNESWA) – Kwaluseni Campus. This intervention centres students as agents of change in the fight against campus sexual harassment by engaging, empowering, and inspiring students to challenge sexist norms and foster a culture of zero tolerance for sexual harassment. Through the Unlimited Interact Clubs (UIC) and the Protect Our Youth (POY) model, the innovation engages students in critical dialogue on campus sexual harassment and empower them to become agents of change and positive norm diffusion. The approach extends beyond student engagement to encompass lecturers, advocating for institutional support and accountability in campus sexual harassment prevention. We aim to generate evidence to plug the existing gap on sexual harassment in Eswatini HEIs, contributing to the reduction of its acceptability and fostering sustainable behavior change among students and staff.This intervention serves as a steppingstone for future VAWG programming in HEIs in Eswatini and beyond, providing onramps for further initiatives.
Summary Results
By engaging students empowering them with social assets, we anticipate to:
- Increase understanding of the definition and forms of campus sexual harassment,
- Enhance understanding of the harmful effects of campus sexual harassment,
- Increase ability to identify and challenge harmful gender norms and everyday sexism,
- Increase sense of responsibility to act as bystanders and intervene to prevent campus sexual harassment, and
- Increase self-efficacy and agency to report and seek support services for campus sexual harassment.
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