The Provincial Office of the Ombudsperson for Protection against Harassment of Women at Workplace, in collaboration with UN Women Pakistan, on Thursday launched a resource toolkit on ‘Understanding Sexual Harassment, Legal Provisions, Roles of Duty Bearers and Right Holders’ to offer comprehensive guidance to train and capacitate stakeholders on the law and redressal mechanisms for dispensation of justice to victims of sexual harassment at workplace in the Punjab province.
Addressing the launch, Minister for Women Development Punjab, who was the chief guest of the event, Ashifa Riaz Fatyana said, “A safe and enabling environment for women is a must for a society to prosper socially and economically. Sexual harassment of women at workplace is a heinous crime and we all should come forward to play our due role in discouraging this from of violence anywhere in our country.
When we don’t speak up against incidents of violence against women and girls, such evil acts become normalized. Creating awareness and sensitizing masses especially men that women are equal beings and have a right to live their lives free from violence, harassment and discrimination is critical for making our province, country and this world a better place for all.
Sharmeela Rassool, Country Representative UN Women Pakistan, stressed that it was a high time to step forward for protection of women and girls and move ahead on a legislative path for ending sexual harassment against them.
Quoting some alarming figures of incidence of harassment in the developed world as well as many South Asian countries, she observed that sexual harassment was a dilemma which was not only affecting Pakistan, but it was prevalent everywhere in the world.
Other distinguished speakers and participants at the event included MPAs – Raheela Khadim Hussain and Musarrat Cheema; Ambreen Raza, Secretary Women Development Department, Government of Punjab; Irum Bukhari, Secretary Higher Education; Justice (r) Nasira Iqbal, senior legal expert; Usman Ijaz Bajwa, Assistant Inspector General (AIG) Punjab Police and Head of Provincial Gender Crimes Cell. Nabila Malick, EVAW and Governance Advisor, UN Women Pakistan, gave a presentation on key highlights of the toolkit and Saman Ahsan, Portfolio Manager EVAW, Governance and Human Rights, UN Women Pakistan, informed participants on the process followed to develop the toolkit.
