Academia is challenged to combat gender-based violence (GBV), an issue that profoundly affects Mozambican society, particularly impacting women.
With this in mind, the Universidade Pedagógica recently hosted a debate on the role of academia in fighting GBV, as part of the celebrations for the 40th anniversary of World Vision Mozambique.
The event included representatives from various academic institutions and organizations, such as Universidade Eduardo Mondlane (UEM), Universidade Católica de Moçambique (UCM), and secondary schools like Lhanguene and Michafutene.
The Rector of UPM, Jorge Ferrão, opened the debate with a speech highlighting the severity of the situation. He presented alarming statistics, indicating that Mozambique records an average of about 21,000 cases of violence annually.
He mentioned that approximately 40 percent of Mozambican women face physical or sexual violence throughout their lives, resulting in physical, psychological, and emotional harm. “These acts often lead to depression and other serious consequences for the victims, which include women, girls, men, and boys,” stated Jorge Ferrão.
Academia was identified as a crucial space for preventing and combating GBV. "It is essential to promote safe environments where everyone can learn without fear of harassment, coercion, or violence," Ferrão emphasized, stressing the need for educational institutions to take a more active role.
According to a recent report from the Center for Public Integrity, six out of ten higher education students in Mozambique have been victims of sexual harassment by peers or faculty.
Adelaide Ganhane, a representative of World Vision Mozambique, reinforced the urgent need for action from universities. For her, “it is not enough to train competent professionals; it is fundamental for educational institutions to also promote social change, combating gender violence in all its forms.”
During the debate, various proposals were discussed, including the introduction of GBV as a mandatory subject in university curricula. Physical Education student Sandra Baptisene emphasized that “gender violence should be at the core of academic training to ensure that future professionals can identify and combat these practices in their work contexts.”
Another point raised was the creation of effective and confidential mechanisms for reporting cases of harassment and abuse. The implementation of online platforms to allow anonymous reporting was one of the suggested solutions. According to Professor Lulu Mahil from the University of Dar es Salaam, “students need to feel they can report without fear of retaliation.”
In addition to physical and sexual violence, the debate also addressed more subtle forms of abuse, such as emotional abuse. Law student Antonieta Gaspar highlighted that “emotional abuse destroys the self-esteem and well-being of victims, and is often overlooked.”
(From Rafael Langa)
