More harassment cases in education sector, ombudsman laments

ISLAMABAD: Higher courts interference is creating hurdles in the proceedings of harassment cases, filed in Federal Ombudsman for Protection against Harassment of Women at Workplace.
The issue was pointed out by Federal Ombudsman for Protection against Harassment of Women at Workplace, Justice Yasmeen Abbasi, while speaking at the advocacy programme on Act for Protection of Women against Harassment at Workplace, organized by Employers Federation of Pakistan.
“Even after the enactment of law, the courts still interfere in the proceedings pending before the ombudsman office. I responded with my order that their interference is like encouraging the perpetrators,” said Yasmeen adding that things improved after that.
She compared harassers with terrorists. “I think they are worst than terrorists as they bring constant agony in the life of others.” She encouraged women to raise their voices against harassment and fight against this menace. She regretted that most of the cases they receive are from educational institutions. “Teachers are the role model for students. It is a matter of great sorrow for me that teachers are indulging in such activities,” she said while urging heads of educational institutions to monitor the situation and find solutions.
She said that Federal Ombudsman Secretariat for Protection against Harassment of Women at Workplace has registered almost 200 cases of harassment till now whereas 45 complaints were registered online on their helpline launched for the general public. She stated that their Secretariat is working on the Urdu translation of the Act which would soon be uploaded on their website. “Similarly, the secretariat plans to upload the Act in regional languages as well,” she said.
The ombudsman further said the secretariat is working exclusively to create awareness about the act for protection of women against harassment as their aim is to ensure a conducive environment for working people to help them an active part of society.
She informed that they have proposed amendment to the Act which is in the pipeline as a number of objections has been raised on their suggestions.Giving details of the proposed amendments, she said the Act defines harassment as any unwelcome sexual advance, request for sexual favours or other verbal or written communication or physical conduct of a sexual nature or sexually demeaning attitudes causing interference with work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment or the attempt to punish the complainant for refusal to comply to such a request or is made a condition for employment.
The amendment proposes the addition of an improper conduct by an employer that is directed at and offensive to employee or to feel that she or he is working in a hostile environment.“Harassment can be of any kind between man to man, woman to woman, man to woman or woman to man so there is need to expand its definition,” Justice Abbasi said. She said they have also proposed to change the title and work `Women’ should be changed so that it can be more effective for all.
Speaking on this occasion, President Islamabad Chambers of Commerce and Industry Muzamil Hussain Sabir said that number of women in workforce is increasing. “Women make 60 percent of the workforce in the world whereas in Pakistan, the percentage is 25 percent,” he said.