When no one’s laughing

Study in safety: Students should be able to go to school without feeling insecure or anxious about harassment or bullying. — File photo

AIN Husniza Saiful Nizam’s cyber battle-cry to #MakeSchoolASaferPlace (see timeline) led to a nationwide online movement with many young Malaysians stepping out of the shadows to share their stories of sexual violations in schools.

Activist Puteri Nuraaina Balqis, 26, who started @savetheschoolsmy on Instagram soon after Ain Husniza’s story broke last month, saw hundreds of current and former students sharing their stories of being harassed.Despite a lack of quantitative data, Women:girls executive director Izza Izelan said there is “clearly a problem” that needs to be dealt with urgently.