‘Women protected against harassment’

LAHORE

No country can progress without empowering its women and giving them due rights and space to play their crucial role.

It has been difficult for women in Pakistan to unlock their potential and fully contribute to country’s development due to multiple reasons including non-conducive work environment for them.

But after the passage of the law against sexual harassment in 2010, the workingwomen in Pakistan have been legally protected against sexual harassment at workplace.

They have the right to approach the inquiry committee in their organisation or directly to women ombudsperson in case of violation of this right. 

These views were expressed by speakers at a seminar jointly organised by Women in Struggle for Empowerment (WISE) and Ombudsperson Punjab under “Harassment Awareness Volunteer Program” (HAVP) on Thursday at Punjabi Complex, Gaddafi Stadium. A large number of representatives of local administration, various govt departments, civil society organisations and NGO representatives attended the seminar.

Punjab Population Minister Zakia Shahnawaz, Hameeda Waheed-ud-Din, Minister for Women Development, Farkhanda Wasim Afzal, Ombudsperson Punjab), Fauzia Viqar, Chairperson PCSW, Maliha Hussain, Director Mehergarh, Bushra Khaliq, Executive Director, WISE and Mumtaz Mughal, Resident Director, Aurat Foundation, spoke on the occasion. 

Zakia Shahnawaz said regardless of the economic and social compulsions to earn income, women face many hurdles while moving outside their homes. They face harassment and feel insecure on the streets, at the public places, in the buses and at the workplaces.

Staring, passing remarks, abuse of authority for sexual favors is not an alien thing, which discourages women to join the labor market. The government is committed to remove all barriers for women development, she said. 

Hameeda Waheed-ud-Din lauded the Punjab government various efforts to empower women and make them feel secure at workplace through various steps at legislative and implementation levels. She urged the women not to hesitate and come forward to play their due role in the progress of the country.

Talking about the Harassment Awareness Volunteer Programme, Bushra Khaliq said training was organised for the orientation of team of 20 selective volunteers.

The volunteers visited 30 different workplaces including banks, factories, hospitals and educational institutes to orient the relevant management on code of conduct and the compliance of the law against harassment, she said.