Ganderbal : Central University of Kashmir (CUK) Vice Chancellor, Prof. Farooq Ahmad Shah on Friday said that holding of awareness and sensitisationprogrammes on sexual harassment and violence against women will immensely help in eliminating these social evils.
According to a statement issued from Public Relations Office of the University the Vice Chancellor Central University of Kashmir Prof Farooq Ahmad Shah while addressing the participants during one-day sensitization program organised by the University’s Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) to observe the international day on “Elimination of Violence Against Women said “there are stringent laws to check the sexual harassment and abuse against women at homes and workplaces, but such incidents are still increasing with each passing day. The need of the hour is to fully aware girls and women folk about their legal rights and measures to be taken to stop the sexual harassment and domestic abuse.” Prof. Shah also said that the females are playing a pivotal role in socio-economic growth and development of the society and are simultaneously doing a commendable job on the domestic front.
Addressing the gathering, Registrar, Prof. M Afzal Zargar, said that central university has zero tolerance towards the sexual harassment and abuse of students, scholars, and employees. “The university has established the ICC with a mandate to receive and thoroughly probe the complaints of such nature, if any, and take stringent action against those involved,” he said, adding that the safety of the women is of paramount importance in the institution. Prof. Zargar said the girl students and women are outshining their counterparts in every professional field and duly deserve a special place in the society.
Controller of Examinations, and Dean School of Legal Studies, Prof. Farooq Ahmad Shah, said, the rampant sexual harassment, injustices and domestic abuse have turned the lives of females miserable. “Those suffering from these evils should raise their voice and take legal recourse,” he said, and asked the participants to take the pledge to highlight such cases so that the perpetrators are booked under law.
Dean Students Welfare and Finance Officer, DrMehrajud Din Shah in his speech, called for framing of more tough and stringent laws to check the growing incidents of rape and other forms of harassments. “The girls and women are being exploited at the workplaces and the need of the hour is to provide a conducive environment for their working,” he said.
Dean School of Life Sciences, Prof. Muhammad Yousuf, asked the ICC members to tread with utmost caution while receiving the sexual harassment complaints and ensure confidentiality of both the victim and the accused, till the case is settled.
External experts including Dy. SP Hqrs, Ganderbal, Ghulam Hassan, Dy SP, Police, Rukhsana Chaudhary, KAS officer and social activist, Mantasha Binti Rashid, Beenish Mehraj from Pledge NGO also spoke on various issues confronting the women including prevention of sexual harassment at workplaces, online harassment, harassment on the streets and the laws to check the menace. They gave real-life examples of cases filed by some women and the punitive action taken by the law.
ICC Presiding Officer, Dr. Mir Insha Farooq, said the primary objective of holding the event was to inform the students, scholars and employees about different forms of harassment and the role of ICC in curbing the same.
ICC member, Dr. Ibraq Khursheed, conducted the programme proceedings and also proposed the vote of thanks. Dr Ishrat Bashir moderated the technical session whilePooja acted as rapporteur. The dignitaries later distributed certificates among the participants.
