Integrated efforts is must to prevent sexual harassment, cyber bullying

Integrated efforts of all the government and non-government organisations concerned can be the crucial means of preventing sexual harassment and cyber bullying. Civil societies and local government authorities should come forward and work together to free the society from the crime as it is being judged as a human rights violation at present. Academics and researchers came up with the observations while addressing a national dialogue seminar titled "Sexual Harassment at Educational Institutions and Workplaces: Reality and Way forward" here today. Rajshahi University (RU) sexual harassment prevention cell organised the seminar at RU Senate Bhaban. Vice-chancellor (VC) of Jagannath University Professor Sadequa Halim and RU Pro-VC Prof Sultan-ul-Islam addressed the seminar as the chief and special guests respectively with president of the cell Prof Tanjima Johra Habib in the chair. Judge of Rajshahi Divisional Cyber Tribunal Ziaur Rahman and its Special Public Prosecutor Advocate Ismat Ara, Prof Abdul Alim of the Department of Law and Prof Sadequa Banu of the Department of Psychology also spoke. Prof Sadequa Halim said the government has adopted various need-based initiatives to prevent women repression. She termed the involvement of technology as reality of the present era and there is no scope of remaining far away from the technology. But repression of women using the technology is totally unexpected. She also urged all quarters to remain cautious towards abuse of the technology together with positive use of it. Prof Sultan-ul-Islam told the meeting that the government has already taken some steps for preventing the crimes. Forging social resistance and waging a movement to end violence against women and children have become an urgent need for building themselves as worthy citizens. As a whole, all people should raise their voice and work together to address the social problem collectively as only the government or any other single organisation cannot bring any positive result in t his regard. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha