Ragging, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence present in state universities

More than 51 percent of state university students surveyed have been subjected to verbal harassment, 34.3 percent to psychological violence, 23.8 percent to physical abuse, and 16.6 percent to sexual harassment, as a result of ragging.

These statistics were revealed in “Prevalence of Ragging and Sexual and Gender- Based Violence in Sri Lankan State Universities,” a report released this week by the University

Grants Commission ( UGC) in partnership with UNICEF in Sri Lanka on the prevalence of ragging and Sexual and GenderBased Violence ( SGBV) in Sri Lankan state universities.

The report said 21 percent of students in public sector universities reported having been subjected to verbal sexual violence, 2.4 percent asked for sexual bribes and 1.5 percent were forced into sex.

Another observation made in the report is that students who participate in severe ragging have specific features including hailing from rural backgrounds, coming from low-income households, living primarily in university dorms, and having had a troubled childhood.

“Ragging is also more common among students who are studying in their mother tongue and in arts faculties. They have previously been subjected to ragging, do not have a thorough knowledge of the Ragging Act and its sanctions, have a low academic score at the Advanced Level Examination, and suffer from a variety of mental problems,” the report said.

The report found that highest percentages of students ragged are from arts faculties and humanities and social sciences departments, while least likely to be ragged are students in engineering faculties.

Though means to control ragging, such as the Ragging Act and other controlling mechanisms, were in place, non-compliance with these rules and regulations had resulted in the prevalence of ragging at universities.

The report also revealed that the low level of involvement of academic staff members in regulating ragging was a factor contributing to the frequency of ragging at universities.

“It was shown that the majority of the students do not have faith in university administration’s anti-ragging measures. The participants felt that a strong studentteacher relationship and a higher level of teacher involvement during the induction of newcomers can contribute to minimising ragging to a greater extent. According to the views of students, intervention of academic staff members could mitigate ragging,” the report revealed.

University authorities are now required to report such incidents to the police, and those found guilty of the offences are liable to lengthy imprisonment, expulsion from the institution of higher education and payment for damages suffered by the victim. An additional stipulation is that all students pledge in writing that they will not engage in harassment of the new entrants.

“Future ragging study should focus on the issues that clergy face, as they are more likely to find campus a foreign experience, to have morality and religion-related concerns during their first year, and to have trouble finding others with whom to express their worries and fears,” the report suggested.

“In the recent past there has been a growing concern on the prevalence of ragging and sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in state universities”, said, UGC Chairman Sampath Amaratunge. He said the report paves way to develop interventions that could mitigate ragging.

“Universities should provide the space for equal opportunities for youth from different backgrounds to learn and become responsible citizens for harassment of the new entrants. UNICEF reiterates its commitment and availability to support the country in addressing ragging as well other harmful practices,” said UNICEF Sri Lanka Representative Christian Skoog.