Gender-Based Violence in University Campuses: Institutional Accountability and Student Activism

African Journal of Gender and Women Studies | Vol. 11, No. 11, November 2026 | pp. 29–42

DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJGWS/001347

Article Type: Research Article

Title: Gender-Based Violence in University Campuses: Institutional Accountability and Student Activism

Names of Author: Thandiwe Nkomo¹, Camila Herrera², & Rachel Thompson³

Author's Affiliation: ¹Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; ²Department of Sociology, University of Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica; ³School of Social Policy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom.

Abstract:
Sexual harassment, coercive transactional relationships, and campus sexual assault remain pervasive barriers to women’s safe and equitable participation in higher education worldwide. Despite the adoption of anti-harassment policies by many universities, opaque disciplinary tribunals, fear of academic retaliation, and institutional reputation protection frequently silence student survivors and shield predatory faculty members. In response, student-led feminist movements have organized campus protests, digital survivor testimonies, and demands for independent oversight. This paper investigates campus gender-based violence governance and student feminist activism across universities in South Africa, Costa Rica, and the United Kingdom. Grounded in feminist institutionalism and survivor-centered justice theory, the study analyzes institutional policy frameworks alongside interviews with 40 student activists and campus equity officers. We argue that dismantling campus rape culture requires independent trauma-informed adjudicatory panels, transparent sanction reporting, and sustained funding for survivor support centers.

Keywords: Campus sexual violence, institutional accountability, student activism, higher education, feminist institutionalism, survivor-centered justice, South Africa, Costa Rica

Manuscript Timeline: Received: September 21, 2026; Revised: October 20, 2026; Accepted: October 24, 2026; Published: November 16, 2026.

Citation: Nkomo, T., Herrera, C., & Thompson, R. (2026). Gender-Based Violence in University Campuses: Institutional Accountability and Student Activism. African Journal of Gender and Women Studies, 11(11), 29–42. DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJGWS/001347

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