Egyptian university seeks to combat sexual harassment on campus

A special unit has been launched in Egypt's Ain Shams University to combat sexual harassment on campus, with hopes of raising awareness on ways to counteract the ongoing issue.

The unit was inaugurated earlier this week under the auspices of the university's vice president Wahab Ezzat and a delegation from the Swedish embassy, as well as Magdy Khaled and Germaine Haddad, who represent the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

Encouraging students and employees to engage in activities that will help hinder the problem, the unit will also receive both "formal and informal" anonymous complaints relating to sexual harassment incidents.

Jon Hedenström, regional programme manager at the Swedish embassy in Cairo, told local website Egyptian Streets that a counselling room would be created for people to report incidents of sexual harassment and speak informally about their experiences.

"As sexual harassment remains a controversial topic in Egypt the creation of informal channels for reporting sexual harassment is important," he said.

As sexual harassment remains a controversial topic in Egypt the creation of informal channels for reporting sexual harassment is important

Hedenström added that courses and workshops would be held to "increase awareness about the negative effects of these behaviours", as well as to identify them and take action against them.

The Swedish diplomat hopes the influence of the initiative will go "beyond Ain Shams University".

Cairo University has also formed a similar unit and has organised several anti-harassment events, activities and vigils, hosting groups such as the Anti-Harassment Movement.

However, the initiatives were halted by the 2011 uprising, which many believe marked the beginning of breaking the taboo of sexual harassment in Egypt.

Egypt has one of the world's highest rates of sexual harassment.

In 2013, a UN report said that 99.3 percent of women in Egypt had been subjected to one form or another of sexual harassment.

In 2013, a UN report said that 99.3% of women in Egypt had been subjected to one form or another of sexual harassment

In 2014, Egypt passed a law criminalising sexual harassment, with a fine of LE 3,000 to LE 5,000 ($337 to $562) and/or a jail sentence of no less than six months.

The law is rarely enforced, with a lack of specialised police and an over-riding fear among survivors of the social stigma associated with sexual harassment.