The first Martha Farrell Memorial Fellow, Mohammad Mojibur Rahman, Associate Professor at the University of Dhaka's Institute of Education and Research (IER), recently returned from his period of training at the Martha Farrell Foundation in New Delhi, India. 

Mojibur initially undertook an online training module on the issue of sexual harassment in the workplace, followed by a week-long visit to the Martha Farrell Foundation for additional training, meetings with Indian universities and capacity-building exercises.

He met with representatives of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in order to learn about JNU's Gender Sensitisation Committee Against Sexual Harassment. Staff at Jamia Millia Islamia briefed him on the university's response to the Indian government's Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013.

Thanks to the input received from the Martha Farrell Foundation during the training period, Mojibur is now equipped to further develop and introduce the new anti-sexual harassment policy at the University of Dhaka. The Foundation will be providing further support, and the ACU will be following up with him over the coming year in order to learn more about the impact of the fellowship.

The Martha Farrell Memorial Fellowship was founded to provide training and support to enable the introduction of anti-sexual harassment initiatives at ACU member institutions within Asia. It provides an opportunity for the sharing of intra-regional best practice and knowledge in the field of gender violence in higher education.

The Martha Farrell Foundation exists to support practical interventions which are committed to achieving a gender-just society and promoting life-long learning.

The ACU's gender work is a crucial part of its mission. The ACU provides training modules, undertakes benchmarking, and organises events with the aim of empowering women and girls in higher education throughout the Commonwealth.