PRESS RELEASE

Sexual molestation of students

The public of Bosnia and Herzegovina has lately been informed about an increasing number of cases of student sexual harassment by university professors. There have been serious indications that this problem has become very widespread and that a number of professors have been abusing their positions by blackmailing students and conditioning passing grades by sexual favours in return. However, the social taboos and the conservative community frequently prevent students, victims of sexual molestation, from addressing the competent institutions and seeking protection.

The Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina is expressing its concern with this serious violation of human rights and students’ dignity. We encourage all victims of sexual molestation belonging to this category of population to address us and report cases of sexual harassment. We will do our best to fully protect identity of every victim and to advocate punishment of the perpetrators.

President of the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights
in Bosnia and Herzegovina