Featured Story: These Two Girls started ‘Sexual Harassment Prevention Program’ being in Law School

Shivakshi Bhattacharya and Swaranjali Agrawal, 4^th BA LLB students of Jindal Global University, Sonepat, Haryana have started a Sexual Harassment Prevention Program attempting to provide students with information about sexual harassment in order to reduce the incidence of sexual harassment, encourage students experiencing sexual harassment to get help by reporting to adults, promote respectful behaviours with peers and help friends experiencing sexual harassment.

This program encourages a safe learning environment where all children can perform at their fullest potential. Below is the overview of the prevention program:

They have divided the program into 3 groups according to age groups. The first is for 5-10 years old, the second for 11-15 years old and the third for 16-18 years old.  Each prevention program is different according to the age group we are catering to.

The objective of the 1^st group (5-10 years old): What will students learn?

1. How to define harassment
2. How to identify harassing behaviour.
3. A plan of action if being harassed.
4. How to help if someone is being harassed.
5. How to define sexual harassment
6. How to identify sexually harassing behaviours.
7. Safe and Unsafe Touch
8. School policy against sexual harassment.
9. How to STOP
10. Negative feelings and consequences of sexual harassment.

The objective of the 2^nd group (11-15 years old): What will students learn?

1. How to define harassment and sexual harassment
2. How to identify sexually harassing behaviours
3. A plan of action if being sexually harassed
4. Negative feelings and consequences of sexual harassment
5. Define the term “boundaries”
6. Discuss the differences between passive, aggressive and assertive behaviour when expressing boundaries to others
7. Recognize how abusers violate physical, emotional, spiritual and sexual boundaries
8. Identify healthy and unhealthy boundaries in relationships

Objectives for 3^rd group (16-18 years old): What will students learn?

1. How do communicate consent and the common difficulties with saying “no” to others
2. Identify the dangers of assuming consent
3. Definition of consent and coercion and distinctions
4. How one becomes vulnerable to sexual harassment and abuse
5. Examine the variety of often subtle ways abusers may exert power and control in relationships
6. Address myths and facts of sexual violence
7. Identify range of sexually violent behaviours
8. Recognizing that sexual violence is never the victim’s fault
9. Understanding illegality of sexual violence
10. Legal implications and legal definitions of Sexual violence.

This program has had a successful impact in the past and would do in the future as well. It is not based on a lecture but involves fictitious stories, pictures and participation of children for better engagement and hence:

• increases participants’ knowledge and awareness about sexual harassment and sexual violence,
• reduces victim-blaming attitudes,
• dispels myths and misinformation,
• provides useful information about resources and responses, and
• Potentially leads to the development of new skills to address and prevent sexual harassment.

Over the last few years, studies have shown harassment and sexual harassment are real and serious problems for elementary, middle and high school students. The girls hope to bring a change through our Prevention program. This was the overview of the Sexual Harassment Prevention Program that they have conducted with 6500 students across Madhya Pradesh and Haryana. Now, they have begun a movement of change and need your support to move forward.

Support these Girls in this Noble Cause by contributing your Bit here