Ganderbal: Central University of Kashmir (CUK) Vice Chancellor, Prof. Farooq Ahmad Shah Friday said that holding of awareness and sensitisation programmes on sexual harassment and violence against women will immensely help in eliminating these social evils.
“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. Farooq Ahmad Shah, said, while addressing the participants during one-day sensitisation programme organised by the varsity’s Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) to observe the international day on “Elimination of Violence Against Women.” Prof. Shah said 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, the 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.