ANTI SEXUAL HARASSMENT

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ANTI SEXUAL HARASSMENT LEGISLATION
By Dr. Fouzia Saeed
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AASHA AN ALLIANCAGAINST SEXUAL
HARASSMENT WAS FORMED IN 2001
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THREE MAIN OBJECTIVES OF AASHA

• Get the problem of sexual harassment recognized
• Develop a policy around this issue
•  
• Get  legislation passed to declare it a crime
•  

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ALL THREE TARGETS WERE ACHIEVED

• Sexual Harassment is not only recognized as an
  issue, it is now a punishable crime in Pakistan
• Code of Conduct for Gender Justice was developed
  in 2002
• Two Laws Against Sexual Harassment were passed in
  2010

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PROTECTION AGAINST HARASSMENT OF WOMEN AT
WORKPLACE, ACT 2010 PASSED ON 25TH OF FEBRUARY
2010
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THE PRESIDENT SIGNED THE BILL ON 9th OF MARCH
2010
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AASHA MEMBERS DECIDED TO FACILITATE THE
IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS FOR TWO YEARS
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NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION WATCH COMMITTEE
(NIWC) FACILITATES AND MONITORS NATIONWIDE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE LAWS
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IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY THROUGH REGULATORY
BODIES AND KEY PARTNERS PRIME MINISTER
SECRETARIAT CABINET SECRETARAIT STATE BANK OF
PAKISTAN PEMRA (Pakistan Electronic Media
Regulatory Authority) PTA (Pakistan
Telecommunications Authority) MINISTRY OF
EDUCATION (Federal) MINISTRY OF HEALTH FPCCI (The
Federation Of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce
Industry)
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PRIME MINISTER SECRETARIAT ISSUED A
NOTIFICATION TO ALL GOVERNMENT BODIES FOR
COMPLIANCE WITH THE ACT 29 March, 2010
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CABINET SECRETARIAT NOTIFIED ALL REGULATORY
BODIES TO COMPLY WITH THE LAW AND
INSTRUCTED THE ORGANIZATIONS REGULATED BY THEM
TO COMPLY 29th July, 2010
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PAKISTAN BUSINESS COUNCIL HAS FACILITATED
COMPLIANCE OF THE ACT AMONG ALL ITS MEMBERS
(including UNILEVER, ICI, ENGRO, COLGATE,
etc.) 8th July, 2010
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THE FEDERATION OF PAKISTAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
INDUSTRY 15th July, 2010 ISSUED GUIDELINES FOR
ALL THE CHAMBERS TO FACILITATE THEIR MEMBERS TO
COMPLY WITH THE LAW.
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STATE BANK OF PAKISTAN NOTIFIED ALL THE BANKS
UNDER IT TO COMPLY 23 August, 2010
FEDERAL MINSTRY OF EDUCATION NOTIFIED ALL
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS UNDER IT WORK IS BEING
DONE ON THE PROVINCIAL EDUCATION MINISTRIES 15th
September, 2010
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FEDERAL MINISTRY OF HEALTH NOTIFIED ALL
DEPARTMENTS AND HOSPITALS UNDER IT 20th
September, 2010
PEMRA NOTIFIED ALL MEDIA AGENCIES AND TV
CHANNELS 12th October, 2010
PAKISTAN TELECOMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY ISSUED
GUIDELINES FOR ALL THE TELECOM COMPANIES TO
COMPLY WITH THE ACT. 5th November, 2010
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OIL AND GAS REGULATORY AUTHORITY (OGRA) ISSUED
GUIDELINES TO ALL ITS LICENSEES TO COMPLY WITH
THE LAW 24th November, 2010
HIGHER EDUCATION COMMISSION 7th February, 2011
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ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE FEDERAL OMBUDSPERSON BY THE
PRIME MINISTER 22 December, 2010
SETTING UP OF THE OMBUDSPERSONS OFFICE January,
2011
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• FACILITATING ORGANIZATIONS THAT
• HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED BY THEIR REGULATORY
• BODIES THROUGH
• GUIDANCE FOR COMPLIANCE
• SENSITIZATION OF STAFF
• TRAINING OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEPARTMENTS
• PROVIDING THEM AWARENESS MATERIAL
• FACILITATED THE GOVERNMENT IN FORMULATION OF THE
  RULES FOR THE ACT

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DEVELOPED A WEBSITE TO MONITOR NATION
WIDE COMPLIANCE www.sexualharassmentwatch.org
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AASHAS LEGAL AID CENTERS PROVIDING LEGAL AID
TO WOMEN WHO WANT TO TAKE UP CASES UNDER 509
THROUGH SIX (6) LEGAL AID CENTERS ISLAMABAD LAHORE
PESHAWAR HYDERABAD KARACHI MULTAN
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ROLE OF POLICE IN IMPLEMENTATION

• Police have a very crucial role in implementing
  Section 509 of the Pakistan Penal Code

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These posters have been developed specifically
for all the Police Stations in Pakistan
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INFORMATION DISSEMINATION FOR AWARENESS
WEBSITE POSTERS BROCHURES CALENDARS SHORT
FILMS
www.aasha.org.pk
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YOU CAN ALREADY WITNESS CHANGE IN THE SOCIETY

• People are talking about it
• Newspapers are writing articles
• Talk shows Plays on the subject on different TV
  channels
• Sexual Harassment cases are being reported
• Organizations are successfully handling cases of
  sexual harassment!

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NEXT STEPS

• Setting up of Provincial Ombudspersons offices
• Institutionalization of anti sexual harassment
  legislation

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NEXT STEPS FOR IMPLEMENTING SECTION 509 UNDER PPC

• For the police to own the agenda
• Institutionalizing information on anti sexual
  harassment legislation in all police trainings
• Building trust between women and the police to
  jointly counter sexual harassment.