AU Students Stand up Against Street Harassment

Ajman University in collaboration with L’Oréal Paris and NGOs Hollaback & Himaya conducted an exclusive training event at EXPO 2020 to raise awareness against street harassment. 20 AU students from different colleges attend the event that was held at the recently concluded Expo2020 in Dubai. The program offers a proven methodology – the 5D’s – to help both men and women to safely intervene if they witness or experience street harassment.

The speaker Dr. Samira Al Ghamdai, a Consultant and Psychiatrist for children, adolescents and adults, said, “With many people, especially women, facing different kinds of harassment on streets, speaking up about this matter is very crucial for our society, and L'Oréal taking such an initiative to empower women to speak up and defend themselves in such situations would definitely help in making change to the society.”

During the session, students learnt how to react to situations where they might face street harassment and on how to protect themselves in different ways, without the need to resort to violence. They also learnt how to step in to help others facing street harassment in simple, effective and safe ways such as creating distractions, documenting the harassment, speaking up, delaying by comforting and asking for help.

“Hearing stories of brave individuals who were courageous to speak and share about their experience of harassment inspired us a lot and made us think of ways to help people and add to the change L'Oréal is aiming to make, said Ikram Abdu, a College of Business Administration student at Ajman University. “I too felt encouraged to stick the letter ‘D’ on my hand and to hold it up to call for action along with the crowd during the event. I hope everyone in the society will join in to stand up against street harassment of any kind and call for action to create a safer and better society for women,” she added.

This article is contributed by Ikram Abdu, Third Year Student in the College of Business Administration at Ajman University.