Online Reporter
Precious Manomano
Herald Reporter
GOVERNMENT launched the Model and Benchmarking Policy on Anti-Sexual Harassment for Higher and Tertiary Education Institutions to combat sexual harassment yesterday.
The historic policy not only marks a milestone in the fight against sexual harassment, but also serves as a bold and urgent call to action, reaffirming commitment to justice, dignity and safety.
At the launch, Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Minister Dr Frederick Shava described sexual harassment in higher education as a gross violation of human rights that erodes academic freedom.
Minister Shava emphasised that toxic environments create a climate of fear, silence and exclusion, particularly affecting women, girls and other vulnerable groups.
“It is deeply troubling and entirely unacceptable that spaces designed for intellectual freedom and personal growth have become environments of intimidation and harm,” Minister Shava stated.
He noted that many individuals are forced into silence, paralysed by the fear of reprisals and overwhelmed by societal stigma adding that this troubling context underscores the necessity of introducing the new policy.
Minister Shava called upon every educational institution including universities, polytechnics, teacher’s colleges, industrial training centres, and research institutes to adopt this model policy and tailor it to their specific operational environments.
The launch was also attended by the Deputy Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Simelisizwe Sibanda who underscored the policy’s significance.
“Let us be clear, sexual harassment has no place in our country and in our institutions. It is unacceptable, it is unlawful, and it is a direct threat to the pursuit of academic excellence, innovation and national development,” he stated.
