UGC stresses women’s empowerment, safety

The government is prioritising women’s empowerment and safety while addressing gender-based violence and emerging risks such as online harassment and cyberbullying, said University Grants Commission (UGC) member Prof Dr Abdullah-Al-Mamun.

He made the remarks as the chief guest at the closing ceremony of a three-day training programme on the ‘Whole of School Approach’ jointly organised by the UGC and UN Women on Tuesday.

Prof Mamun said initiatives were being taken to support women from low-income and vulnerable families through social assistance, including the Family Card programme, while stressing the importance of education, skills development, employment, entrepreneurship and social protection.

“Ensuring women’s safety alongside their empowerment is essential,” he said, noting that women’s education, employment, leadership and meaningful participation in society would be difficult without a safe environment.

He called for integrated institutional mechanisms to prevent sexual harassment and gender-based violence at universities, rather than relying solely on committees or policies.

Complaint mechanisms should be accessible, safe, confidential and effective, with appropriate support for victims, accountability and monitoring after complaints are filed, he said.

Referring to growing digitalisation, Prof Mamun said universities must ensure safe digital environments and establish effective and confidential mechanisms to report online harassment and other forms of abuse.

He also called for greater opportunities for women to emerge as leaders, rather than limiting their participation to quotas or representation. 

The UGC and UN Women have signed an MoU to strengthen institutional capacity to prevent sexual and gender-based violence at workplaces, public spaces and higher educational institutions.

Under the initiative, five universities�"Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Khulna University, Begum Rokeya University, Daffodil International University and American International University-Bangladesh�"are receiving institutional support.