EDUCATION

Universities banned from silencing victims of abuse

A BBC investigation found almost a third of universities in England had used non-disclosure agreements
A BBC investigation found almost a third of universities in England had used non-disclosure agreements
DRAZEN ZIGIC/GETTY IMAGES

Universities and colleges will be banned from using gagging orders to silence students who complain about sexual abuse, bullying, harassment and misconduct on campus.

The amendment to the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill was passed during a debate in the Lords last night with cross-party support.

It was proposed by a Labour peer and supported by the government after concerns that institutions had used non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) to stop rape victims speaking out about their treatment.

A previous investigation by the BBC had found universities used more than 300 NDAs in student complaints between 2016 and 2020, with almost a third of universities in England having used such agreements.

Lord Collins of Highbury, the shadow deputy leader of the Lords, welcomed the government’s support