National Commission for Women (NCW) chairperson Rekha Sharma has sought the withdrawal of a “misogynist” circular issued by Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) that says girls are “supposed to know how to draw a tangible line between them and their male friends”.

The circular was issued for a counselling session by JNU on sexual harassment.

Tagging the circular on Twitter, Sharma sought its withdrawal. “Why all the teachings are always for girls only? Time to teach harassers, not the victims. The misogynist circular of #JNU should be withdrawn. Internal committee should have victim-centred approach and not otherwise,” Sharma added.

The JNU internal complaints committee had uploaded the circular on the website while announcing a seminar on sexual harassment.

Under the subhead “why is the counselling session required”, the circular said: “ICC comes across a number of cases where sexual harassment takes place among close friends. Boys generally cross (sometimes advertently, sometimes inadvertently) the thin line between friendship’s bantering and sexual harassment. Girls suppose to know how to draw a tangible line (between them and their male friends) to avoid any such harassments (sic).”