Don’t be a bystander, you can stop sexual harassment on public transport
Awareness a key point: Panelists Nivendra Uduman, Sanjeewani Abeykoon and Weere Weerasingham with moderator Sharanya Sekaram (second from right). Pix by M.D. Nissanka
Women should dress decently to avoid harassment, women should be submissive and accept male dominance, ‘good’ women do not complain, yell or hit perpetrators: these are stereotypical norms long perpetuated in society. As a result of such thinking, women and girls who use public transportation in Sri Lanka constantly become victims of sexual harassment.
‘Not On My Bus’ a campaign implemented by Oxfam in Sri Lanka, an adaptation of the global campaign, ‘Enough’ initiated by Oxfam International, hopes to change this. The campaign took off on March 28, at Water’s Edge, Colombo.
Oxfam is partnered by International Youth Alliance for Peace (IYAP), MenEngage Alliance, The Asia Foundation, Chrysalis, Stand Up Movement Lanka and Centre for Women’s Research (CENWOR).
Country Director Oxfam Bojan Kolundzija
Following a study carried out by Oxfam in Sri Lanka since January 2018 focusing on socio-cultural attitudes behind norms that perpetuate harassment on women and girls, ‘bystander intervention’ was selected as the driving force behind the campaign. This was based on the workshops held in Colombo, Kandy, Katunayake, Batticaloa and Kilinochchi.
The first national-level study on sexual harassment on public transport in Sri Lanka carried by UNFPA revealed that 90% of women and girls are victims of sexual harassment in public transport at least once in their lifetime.
“The campaign sends a clear message of promoting zero tolerance to sexual harassment in transport, encourages people to react while working towards education, prevention and prosecution,” noted Bojan Kolundzija, Country Director, Oxfam in Sri Lanka at the launch.
Victim and perpetrators: Enacting a scene that many girls and women undergo on buses and trains.
Delivering the keynote speech Gayani De Silva, Chairperson, Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport said, “It’s simple decency to understand the impact of degrading a fellow human being. Public transport, a key factor of a productive economy seems to be unsafe for women posing a threat to gender parity.”
The panel discussion that followed with Weere Weerasingham, Gender Equality and Conflict Sensitivity Specialist, Sajeewani Abeykoon, Attorney-at- Law and Nivendra Uduman, Psychologist on the importance of bystander intervention and the reasons why bystanders do not come forward was moderated by Sharanya Sekaram, Consultant, Oxfam in
Sri Lanka.
Attending the launch were Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, Arjuna Ranatunga, Executive Director, National Committee on Women, Anula Indrani, Director (Planning), National Transport Commission Vijitha Weerasinghe, and Deputy Head, Political Trade and Communications, EU in
Sri Lanka Anne Chatterjee.
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(Section 345 of the Penal Code – causing sexual annoyance or harassment by word or action is liable to a minimum 5 years of imprisonment and/or fine and/or order to pay compensation to the victim.)
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