Training programme: Participants take charge for implementation of anti-sexual harassment laws

The session helped create a better understanding of the phenomenon and laws to counter it.

Citizens from several sectors committed to take charge of the implementation of anti-sexual harassment laws, first in their own workplaces and then in the larger society. They expressed their commitment to eradicate sexual harassment after a three-day residential training organised by Mehergarh, according to a press release.

The training was organised at Mehergarh’s training centre in Islamabad.

Participants from South Waziristan, Peshawar, Islamabad, Lahore, Multan, Quetta, Hyderabad and Karachi representing government departments, universities, civil society, media, law enforcement and unions were informed about the AASHA movement’s ten-year struggle and Dr Fouzia Saeed’s leadership for the passage of these laws.

Mehergarh Director Maliha Husain explained the issue, the myths around it and the two laws — the Protection Against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act 2010 and the amendment to PPC Section 509 — which protect harassment victims. Husain stressed that it is very important to resolve the cases without any preconceptions about the complainant or the accused. The purpose of the laws is not to punish the culprit but to ensure accountability and improve their behaviour. She said that a lot of the cases have been resolved informally where the accused agreed that what they did was wrong and they would not do it in future.

Punjab Health Department Deputy Secretary Dr Mohsin Mehmood Sarwar stated that besides organisational level, each individual should take responsibility to create awareness among our own families and peers about the issue and how to deal with it. He also said that these are exemplary laws that need to be implemented by every organisation to ensure a safer work environment. Dr Aliya Moin Zafar, Department of Humanities head at COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, said, “I have seen women and girls face this issue in organisations and educational institutes and with the help of these laws, they will now know what to do to deal with it”.

Federal Ombudsperson for Sexual Harassment Justice (retd) Yasmin Abbasi stressed that the structure of inquiry committee is crucial to the implementation of the act. She said inquiry committees should have representation from the employer, employees and CBA, with at least one female member, and must be credible enough to investigate cases without bias.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 12^th, 2013.