By Mehwish Ansari
Harassment of women is a form of gender-based violence that involves unwanted verbal, physical, or sexual behavior that is directed towards a woman. This behavior can occur in public or private spaces, including the workplace. Women harassment in the workplace can take many forms, including unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, verbal or physical abuse, and the creation of a hostile work environment.
In Pakistan, women harassment is a serious issue that affects many women in the workplace. According to a report by the Aurat Foundation, an organization focused on women’s rights in Pakistan, 96% of women in the workplace have experienced some form of harassment. This includes unwanted physical contact, comments on their appearance, and sexual advances.
To address the issue of women harassment in Pakistan, there are federal and provincial laws in place. The most comprehensive law is the Protection Against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act, 2010, which provides protection to women against harassment in the workplace. The law defines harassment broadly, including any unwanted physical contact, sexual advances, or comments that create a hostile work environment. The law also requires employers to establish a grievance committee to investigate complaints of harassment and to provide training to employees on the prevention of harassment.
آن لائن رپبلک پالیسی کا میگزین پڑھنے کیلئے کلک کریں۔
In addition to legal protections, there are a number of strategies that can be used to counter women harassment in Pakistan. These include:
- Education and awareness-raising: Increasing awareness about the issue of women harassment is an important step in preventing it from occurring. This can include training sessions for employees and managers on what constitutes harassment and how to prevent it.
- Encouraging reporting: Many women do not report instances of harassment because they fear retaliation or do not believe that anything will be done to address the issue. Encouraging reporting and ensuring that complaints are taken seriously is an important step in preventing harassment.
- Creating safe reporting mechanisms: Providing a safe and confidential reporting mechanism for women who experience harassment is crucial. This can include an anonymous reporting system or the establishment of a grievance committee to investigate complaints.
- Holding perpetrators accountable: It is important to hold perpetrators of harassment accountable for their actions. This can include disciplinary action and, in some cases, legal action.
- Creating a supportive work environment: Creating a work environment that is supportive of women and promotes gender equality can help to prevent harassment. This can include policies that promote work-life balance, flexible work arrangements, and equal opportunities for promotion and advancement.
Overall, addressing women harassment in Pakistan requires a multi-faceted approach that involves legal protections, education and awareness-raising, and creating a supportive work environment that promotes gender equality and prevents harassment. Lastly, a functional & healthy society must ensure a protective & developmental environment for women. Pakistan needs to address this chronic issue at the earliest.
