The move towards a ‘zero-tolerance approach’ to sexual harassment and violence in Irish colleges has enjoyed ‘huge buy-in from students and staff’ according to the National Women’s Council.

It comes as the council prepares to publish a new ‘best practice’ guide aimed at helping colleges try to stamp out sexual harassment on campus.

The new guide aims to help third-level institutions put the national policy for ending sexual violence and harassment in higher education’ into practice.

On Newstalk Breakfast this morning National Women’s Council project coordinator Aoife Grimes said colleges have already had good success taking on the zero-tolerance policy.

“Higher education institutions have been a great starting point for social mobility in the past, so seeing them take on the leadership roles is a new step in that journey,” she said.

‘The Guide’

Ms Grimes said the guide shows how to implement the framework that focuses on the prevention of sexual violence.

“It’s a guide from people on the ground, people in grassroots organisations, people in civil society organisations and staff within institutions,” she said.

As well as prevention, the guide outlines how to help survivors of sexual violence.

“I think a really key goal of the guide, supported by the Department of Further and Higher Education, has been to create supports for victim-survivors within higher education,” she said.

“This is just one tiny block within massive cultural change that I’m hoping we can see over the next few years.”

‘Higher Education’

Ms Grimes said “the higher education institutions are uniquely placed” due to their willingness to poll students and staff members.

“Students and staff and institutions of the department and the education society all know that it is a massive problem," she said.

“You see from students that there has been huge buy-in on all levels and I think that it shows an exciting movement forward.

“There is real commitment about moving forward and creating spaces to talk about consent, sexual violence, harassment and to change the ethos.

“We have to take a zero-tolerance approach in all levels of society, but I think that higher education institutions have a role like anyone else.

“They have the right to create that space within their institutions."

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