If the objective is to provide justice then any claims of harassment must be reported, investigated and proved
KARACHI: Over the past few months, women around the world have, courageously, come forward against ‘sexual predators’ that have caused them unimaginable mental and physical harm. The present circumstances have empowered women and forced organisations to take significant steps aimed at changing the culture of misogyny that has allowed men to prey upon women without fear.
However, news of suicides committed by men after allegations of harassment highlights cases that have gone horribly wrong.
A former Welsh Assembly minister, Carl Sargeant, committed suicide after being implicated in a sexual harassment scandal. Sargeant was relieved of his duties in complete violation of the rule of ‘natural justice’, despite denying the claims made against him. His wife and two children were devastated, blaming the Labour Party for treating him as a criminal, based on assertions that were never proven in court. Sargeant was penalised and ostracised for an action he might have never committed. Unfortunately, Sargeant gave himself the ultimate punishment, unable to withstand the tremendous pressure that often stigmatises men — being labelled as predators.
If the objective is to provide justice then any claims of harassment must be reported, investigated and proved. Most important of all, the rule of natural justice — agreed upon universally — must be honoured by society.
Hopefully, this case will stress the importance of impartiality, when dealing with the claims of harassment particularly in the present times where the accuser has been, wrongfully, awarded the status by both judge and jury.
Khawaja Akbar
Published in The Express Tribune, December 9th, 2017.
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