Oxfam partners up with IBA Karachi to make educational institutes free of harassment

November 17, 2020: The Institute of Business Administration Karachi and Oxfam in Pakistan have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to raise awareness among the students on gender and sexual harassment issues.

The MoU was signed by the Executive Director, IBA Karachi, Dr. S Akbar Zaidi and Gender Specialist, Oxfam in Pakistan, Mr. Sartaj Abbasi, on behalf of Country Director, Mr. Syed Shahnawaz Ali. The Oxfam has signed the MoU with the IBA under its new project to curb harassment cases in educational institutes of Karachi, with the support of Australian High Commission through its Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Oxfam, together with the Australian aid, has taken the initiative to engage with college and university students to educate them on harassment issues.

Through this MoU, the IBA and Oxfam will create a framework to educate the youth in the areas of gender-based violence through edutainment in the university settings. The IBA has already established its mechanisms for effective handling of workplace harassment cases and the institute looks forward to further strengthening it under this new collaboration with the Oxfam. The Executive Director, Dr. Zaidi, appreciated this initiative and the organizations joining hands for such an important cause. He urged the need to make educational institutes a safe place for the students and to end the stigma of talking about harassment.

This collaboration between the two organizations will result in capacity building and help initiate activities to raise awareness for making the educational institutions safer and free of harassment for all students and employees.