Training in anti-sexual harassment legislation held

Islamabad
University representatives, employees of civil society organisations, political parties workers and government departments’ officials attended a three-day residential training on anti-sexual harassment legislation in Mehergarh training centre.
As a part of implementing anti-sexual harassment legislation throughout the country, Mehergarh organised the training at its training centre in the outskirts of Islamabad.
Participants of the training were from all parts of the country including areas such Mohmand Agency, Peshawar, Abbottabad, Islamabad, Chakwal, Lahore, Multan, Muzaffargarh and Quetta.
The participants were familiar with the law but said that after attending the training, they are more capable to effectively implement it in their organisations.
Progressive managements of organisations all over the country are working on complying with anti-sexual harassment act which was passed in 2010. Since then, a number of organisations are working on facilitating its implementation in their organisations to make their work environment more dignified.
According to the law, they have to form a three-member Standing Inquiry Committee with at least one woman member to handle cases of sexual harassment so that both men and women can earn living in a respectful manner.
According to the law, it is the responsibility of the managements to display the text of the law in their offices for easy access to information and also educate all their employees about the issue, the act and the importance of reporting cases so that they may be handled in a confidential manner.
Mehergarh has facilitated more than 3,600 cases in the last five years which shows that they are not afraid of being stigmatised by reporting a case of sexual harassment which is a very positive sign.
“It is important for people to speak out and not accept abuse or sexual harassment and the people around them need to be supportive and stand with them in this every difficult process of going through these cases. People are speaking out because working in a dignified environment is important,” said Director at Mehergarh and facilitator of the training Maliha Husain.
A female participant from Mohmand Agency said that she will spread the message in her area so that more women feel comfortable coming out of their homes. As senior political worker from Balochistan said that she will ensure that her political party is the first to comply with this law and she will also work to speed up the appointment of provincial ombudsperson as well as implementation throughout Balochistan. She said that if men and women work together, they can push Balochistan towards development a lot faster.
Maliha Husain requested all the participants not only to ensure proper compliance in their own organisations but work on raising the awareness in their families and communities so that people start talking about this issue as a first step towards its resolution.