Sexual harassment :
Sexual harassment is a global issue nowadays. There are millions of cases reported for this category of Crime. Sexual harassment is defined as unwanted or unwelcome behavior that can offend, humiliate, and intimidate a person while creating a hostile work environment.
Generally, there are many types of this Crimepracticed in daily routine, but some of them we discuss below:
Making inappropriate sexual advances Verbal harassment or abuse, verbal or written communication (including sexual incident narration, emailing or messaging, or displaying explicit sexual content in print or electronic form) (SMS, Email, Screensavers, Posters, CDs, etc.)
Sexual favors are requested (invitations for sex, requests for going out on dates)
Physical behavior (like touching, kissing, physical, pinching assault like rape, etc.)
Sexually demeaning behavior (staring at another person’s and private parts body )
Sexual Harassment in Pakistan :
The statistics claim that 99% of women in Pakistan have faced harassment at least once in their lifetime. However, if you travel by public transport, it may be your daily plight.
Pakistani women face grave challenges such as harassment, catcalling, and stalking whenever they leave their house, despite ranking among the lowest on the gender equality index.
In Pakistan s society, there are a lot of crimes against women, but the top of them are related to sexual harassment. There is a huge number of women in society. Also, many working ladies in routine faced a huge interaction with harassment. There are different causes of harassment in Pakistan, normally attempts on working places where a man or woman is employed for work/job. Hence, the supervisor or boss takes advantage of his seniority in illegal manners in the legal term Quid Pro Quo Harassment, which means demanding sexual favors from a person in authority. employer/Boss makes conditions for their employee to fulfill his illegal needs and wants some major and common practices are :
wage increase.
Promotional opportunities (to a higher grade)
Possibility of training (within or outside the country)
Transferring (to another place, department, etc.)
The job itself For all these benefits, the boss/employer wants to get in return favor of physical relations, any unwanted advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical misbehavior.
There are some legal recommendations for victims of Sexual Harassment :
1st of All, be confident and not worry about any typical allegations
be brave and stand against CrimeCrime for your right
It would help if you expressed to the harasser that you do not approve of their Wishes.
Secondly: Even if you do not wish to file a formal complaint, notify a trusted colleague in your organization and a trustworthy family member or parents
Thirdly: Suppose you want to make an informal complaint. In that case, you or your designated person can report the incident to your Ceo or owner of the company, or any major person who has authority.
Fourthly: You can also file a formal complaint with your supervisor to Police Station
if you are not satisfied with the decision of the inquiry committee and the competent authority, you may file an appeal with the District Court.
Pakistani laws for sexual harassment
According to Section 510 of the Pakistan Penal Code 1860, if a drunken person appears in a public place, annoying any person, he can face imprisonment, a fine, or both.
Section 509 of the Pakistan Penal Code 1860 states that if a person labels a woman, utters a disrespectful word, or makes an offensive gesture, he faces a three-year prison sentence, a fine, or both.
Section 366A of the Pakistan Penal Code 1860 states that if a girl under 18 is forced to engage in sexual intercourse, the offender faces a ten-year prison sentence and a fine.
Section 509 of the Pakistan Penal Code 1860 states that if a person demands sexual favors and uses a verbal or nonverbal form of communication that annoys, the person faces a three-year prison sentence, a fine, or both.
Section 509 of the Pakistan Penal Code 1860 states that if a man falsely accuses a woman of fornication, he faces five years in prison and a fine.
penalties
Section 354A of the Pakistan Penal Code 1860 states that if a man assaults a woman by using criminal force, stripping her clothes, and exposing her to public view, he faces death or life imprisonment and a fine.
Section 294 of the Pakistan Penal Code 1860 states that if a person uses indecent or vulgar language in a public place with the intent to offend, he faces a three-year prison sentence and a fine.
Section 3 of the Protection Against Harassment of Women at Workplace Act 2010 requires each organization to form an inquiry committee to investigate complaints of workplace harassment. The committee should have three members. One of the members should be a woman.
According to Section 2(H) of the Protection Against Harassment of Women at Workplace Act 2010, anyone who makes an unwelcome sexual advance, requests for sexual favors, or engages in any verbal or physical conduct (which falls under the category of workplace harassment) that interferes with work performance or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment for coworkers can face the following penalties.
Minor Penalties:
Censure withholding for a specific period, promotion, or increment
Stoppage for a particular period Recovery of the compensation payable to the complainant from pay or any other accused source
Major Penalties :
Reduction to lower post or time-scale or to a lower stage in a time-scale.
Compulsory retirement
Removal from service
Dismissal from service and fine According to Section 8 of the Protection against Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2010, the female has an option to file a complaint directly to the Ombudsman or the Inquiry Committee
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