HP University Hosts Workshop on Sexual Harassment & DV Awareness

By: WE staff | Thursday, 13 November 2025

• HPU organised a one-day workshop on “Awareness on Sexual Harassment and Domestic Violence”
• It was hosted by the Department of Political Science
• HPU Vice-Chancellor Mahavir Singh attended the workshop

Vice-Chancellor Mahavir Singh of Himachal Pradesh University attended a one-day workshop organized by the Department of Political Science themed “Awareness on Sexual Harassment and Domestic Violence.”

He said that every department of the university needs to focus on applied research that would provide benefits to society.

While informing about the establishment of Innovation and Research Centre in five subjects, Mahavir added that this would contribute significantly to the growth of HPU and asked all the departments to collaborate with Innovation and Research Centres for quality inter-disciplinary research. He announced that research scholars doing exceptionally well would be sent abroad for research.

In the inaugural session, Advocate Shikha Chauhan from the Himachal Pradesh High Court spoke on “Crime against Women and Legal Perspectives.”

She observed that more than 70 per cent of crimes against women in India remain unreported and discussed legal frameworks such as the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) related to women’s safety and justice.

The second session of the workshop was conducted by Professor Pareeksha Negi, Chairperson, Centre for Women's Studies, who engaged the students and research scholars on the topic of "Women's Safety and Domestic Violence." She urged women to be aware of their rights and to learn to be self-sufficient and empowered.

The psychological and social dimensions of sexual harassment and domestic violence were also discussed by DSP Geetanjali from police headquarters in Himachal Pradesh and Professor S.N. Ghosh, Department of Psychology. The session was chaired by Dr. Abha Khimta, Chairperson, Department of Political Science.