Protection against Harassment of Women
Protection against Harassment of Women
Government of Pakistan has approved the Act titled, “Protection against Harassment of Women at the workplace Act, 2010. The purpose of this Act is to provide safe and secure working environment to the working women in the public and private sector. To ensure implementation of this Act in its true spirit Government has made it mandatory for all public and private sectors including educational institutions to adopt the “code of conduct” in their institution to comply with the Act. SU believes in fostering safe and secure working environment free from intimidation specifically for working women and female students and has therefore adhered to the policy by adopting the code of conduct and constituting Harassment Complaint Committee. Some of the salient features of the act and composition of the comittee and its functioning are given below: Protection against Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2010 Pakistan Government passed a law in 2010 called, “Protection against Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2010. The intention of the law is to provide an opportunity to all organizations, institutions, public, private and civil society to develop a self-regulatory mechanism whereby organizations/institutions can handle the problems related to sexual harassment internally. Adoption of this code has become mandatory for all organizations/institutions.
The Act is for all employees, students, women and men and puts the responsibility on the management to make the organizational environment safe and secure and free of sexual harassment. According to this law the institutions can deal with sexual harassment cases within the institution without going to the police or court of law.
What is Sexual Harassment?
Examples of Harassment
• Offensive name calling/jokes/pictures
• Unwanted touching, Sexual advances
• Offensive sexual remarks
• Hindering work of student/employee for sexual gains
• Limiting access to someone
Who Can Experience Sexual Harassment?
Direct targets
• Students
• Employees
• Volunteers/interns
Indirect targets
• Bystanders
• Witnesses
Implementation of the Act in University of Sindh To ensure that the workplace is free from all forms of harassment and the work environment is more professional and dignified, SU has implemented “PROTECTION AGAINST HARRASSMENT OF WOMEN AT THE WORKPLACE ACT 2010” in its institution. SU has established an inquiry committee, and a harassment complaint cell to fully abide to the Act The inquiry committee and harassment complaint cell constitute the following members:
| Prof. Dr. Naseem Aslam Channa
Director, Institute of Biochemistry Email: drnachanna@usindh.edu.pk |
Prof. Dr. Misbah Bibi Qureshi
Director, Institute of Gender Studies Email: misbah.qureshi@usindh.edu.pk |
Mr. Ghulam Muhammad Bhutto
Member Email: gm.bhutto@usindh.edu.pk |
While a complaint regarding sexual harassment may be initiated in several ways, eventually the complaint will need to be made in writing. The Harrassment Complaint Form linked to below can be used to initiate a complaint or can be used as a guide for the types of information that are helpful in the investigation of sexual harassment allegation. You can reach us at 022-9213-147 or send us an email at harassmentcommittee@ usindh.edu.pk.