Our approach is defined by the inclusion principle of Nothing About Us Without Us which ensures that targets and survivors imparted by the structural inequity are involved in the design and implementation of policies and practices that affect their lives. The Campus Safety Initiative is grounded in research and adopts a participatory process that builds the capacity of women, girls and young people including persons with disabilities with the skills, knowledge and ability to organize and build movements, galvanize and mobilize peers for sexual assault prevention effort, use their authentic voices to advocate against sexual violence and be empowered legally to hold institutions to account.

This capacity building exposes them to information on overcoming the bystander effect and equip them with the technical tools to provide first aid psychological support to targets or victims. This extends to empowering girls and women through capacity strengthening on organizing, leadership, movement building and using their authentic voices which impacts on their aspirations, leadership capabilities, perception, behaviour and response to create a culture and climate devoid of sexual harassment.

Our theory of change is premised on the reciprocal relationship between the culture of silence that thrives on a permissive climate and lack of survivor-centred reporting system, poor institutional response enabled by lack of accountability systems and structures. Hence, we are bridging existing gaps an approach that centres the voices of women, girls and young people including persons with disabilities, increases reportage, holds perpetrators accountable to further deter potential perpetrators, and improves institutional accountability.

Sexual harassment has recently assumed critical dimensions in Higher Education Institutions and multi-country studies continue to reveal the increasing prevalence and varying manifestation of sexual harassment as a pattern of violence that is gendered and power-centered. In Nigeria, 7 out of 10 female undergraduates experience sexual harassment.

Gender Mobile Initiative conducted research on sexual harassment in 7 Tertiary Institutions- findings revealed a significant proportion of the respondents knew other students who have experienced sexual harassment but they could neither report on their behalf nor provide them with any form of support. This, together with other anecdotal evidences, gave rise to our Campus Safety Initiative, which is grounded in research and adopts a participatory process that builds the capacity of women, girls and young people including persons with disabilities with the skills, knowledge and ability to organize and build movements, galvanize and mobilize peers for sexual assault prevention effort, use their voices to advocate against sexual violence and be empowered to hold institutions to account.

Through our campus safety initiative and in partnership with Voice-Oxfam, we amplified the voices and strengthened the agencies of female students on sexual harassment prevention and response at the University of Abuja. Between 2023 and 2024, we built the capacity of 150 female student leaders on campus organizing, proactive bystander intervention, first aid psychosocial support and strategic advocacy. We also onboarded the trained female student leaders as Campus Ambassadors in the campus community. These campus ambassadors cascaded learnings from the various capacity building sessions to the general campus community, educating colleagues on the importance of prevention, and how to be proactive responders to sexual harassment within the educational environment.

As part of our initiative, we launched the CampusPal Mobile Application. This app is a survivor-centered platform where students can report cases of sexual harassment while being assured of the highest level of confidentiality.

Gender Mobile Initiative also carried out a town hall forum to foster meaningful engagement between the student community and the management of the institution, centering on the voices, experiences, and needs of victims, and survivors of sexual harassment, and the student community at large.

Some remarkable developments emerged from this initiative, highlighting the resilience and leadership of the female students who were trained. These young women, once quiet observers, have now become powerful voices, leading the charge in raising awareness across their campus communities. They have organized and spearheaded various awareness programs aimed at sensitizing their peers on the critical role of bystander intervention in preventing sexual harassment.

However, the journey has not been without its challenges. Some students faced resistance, with a culture of silence and fear deeply ingrained within the community. Others struggled to balance their advocacy efforts with academic demands, often navigating personal anxieties about standing up to the pervasive issue of sexual harassment. Despite these hurdles, their commitment to creating a safer environment for all continues to inspire change, driving home the message that it’s everyone’s responsibility to act and intervene.

Gender Mobile Initiative also experienced some challenges during the implementation of this project, some of which include the lack of trust in the institutional mechanisms for the report of sexual harassment. Most students, particularly victims of sexual harassment, were reluctant to engage in discussions or report cases, fearing stigma, retaliation, or a lack of support from institutional authorities. To navigate this challenge, we focused on building trust through targeted awareness campaigns and open dialogues to create safe spaces where students could openly discuss their concerns. We also carried out a hostel drive within hostels on campus where we onboarded students on the CampusPal app- a survivor-centered reporting tool where students can report with the highest level of confidentiality, empowering victims to report cases without fear of retaliation or exposure.

The academic calendar added another layer of difficulty. The school calendar, which was affected by the Academic staff Union of Universities strike affected the academic calendar, posing a challenge for us to maintain consistent engagement with student leaders. To navigate this, we employed a flexible and adaptive approach, adjusting our timelines to align with the revised academic calendar and swiftly re-engaged the students at the resumption of academic activities, prioritizing key initiatives and adapting our strategies to fit the new timelines. This flexibility allowed us to maintain the effectiveness of the program despite the disruptions.

Through these initiatives, we have significantly raised awareness, equipped students with critical tools, and established strong support systems to combat sexual harassment on campus. Our commitment to empowering students and driving systemic change is unwavering as we strive to create safer, more inclusive educational environments where women and girls can thrive and achieve their full potential. However, this journey requires collective effort. Therefore, we urge institutions, policymakers, and all stakeholders to work collectively in sustaining this momentum by actively implementing policies and fostering a culture of zero tolerance for all forms of harassment. Together, we can build campuses that are safe, respectful, and empowering for all.