Anti-sexual-harassment exhibition held

A series of exhibitions, marking decade-long working women's movements and raising awareness about sexual harassment at national level, is getting good response from womenfolk.

Alliance Against Sexual Harassment at workplace (AASHA) is arranging these exhibitions in ten major cities including Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, Hyderabad, Multan, Sialkot, and Faisalabad.

Talking to APP, Women Organization for Rights and Development (WORD), Executive Director Aqsa Khan said that the exhibitions have been successfully held in seven cities where it received positive response as women were keen to know about this specific legislation approved for ensuring conducive environment for them.

Aqsa said that the participants from across the country have send strong messages for supporting victims of sexual harassment especially those who report cases.

The participants have demanded the government, media and policy makers' support promoting zero tolerance for sexual harassment in the society, she added.

Aqsa said every single case of sexual harassment reported is an achievement of the efforts in implementing the anti sexual harassment laws. An organization that is committed to deal with cases of sexual harassment will enhance the productivity and efficiency of its employees. It should take pride in resolving cases of sexual harassment rather than feel afraid of damaging the reputation of the organization.

The management should not side with the perpetrator or put pressure on the enquiry committees due to outside political influence, she added.

Aqsa stressed the need to change the mindset of those who discriminate women on the basis of their sex and usually consider them inferior to men in the society.

The awareness material and key highlights of the struggle of decade long movement are a part of the display while awareness sessions are also being arranged at national level.
Through AASHA's platform, women are demanding appointment of provincial ombudspersons on priority, adding she said that the women are also demanding strengthening of inquiry committees for resolving cases swiftly.

The exhibition will be held in Multan on September 15-16 and in Lahore on September 17.