“ANGRY and frustrated” Australian National University students gathered on University Avenue this morning (August 2) to protest for support for survivors of sexual assault and harassment at the university. 

The protest was planned by the Australian National University Students’ Association (ANUSA) and ANU Women’s Department who accuse the university of ignoring the recommendations highlighted in the “National Report on Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment at Australian Universities”, which was produced by the Australian Human Rights Commission in 2017.

At the time, they say ANU was ranked as the second worst in the entire country.

Since the report, they say countless further reviews have been undertaken of the systemic failures at play and dozens of new promises made each year. 

The protest’s major demand is that every single recommendation and promise be fulfilled from the major reports and documents released over the last few years. 

“The purpose of this protest is to call out ANU’s negligence in consistently breaking promises and demand reparations for their disrespect of survivors,” said ANU Students’ Association women’s officer Avan Daruwalla. 

“These promises are made to protect the community and stand with survivors – every broken promise contributes to the acceptance of violent behaviour, leaves women feeling unsafe, and renders support services useless to survivors. The promises broken are clear, actionable recommendations that the ANU is failing to complete with no explanation to students.”

A call to action petition has also been launched by the groups here.