Awareness Campaign for Eliminating Gender Based Violence 

Chandigarh, December 5, 2024: Under the aegis of UGC’s 16 days of activism, an Awareness Campaign for Eliminating Gender Based Violence was organised at Panjab University (PU), here today. 

The Department-cum-Centre for Women’s Studies & Development, Panjab University, Chandigarh organised an Awareness/Sensitization programme on Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal Act, 2013) for the faculty, non-teaching staff, research scholars, students of the university. Prof. Manvinder Kaur, Senior Faculty, & Former Chairperson, PUCASH delivered a talk on how to effectively tackle sexual harassment of women at workplace. 

By narrating the sexual violence perpetrated against Bhanwari Devi, Sathin, who had opposed child marriage, the speaker explained the struggle faced by Bhanwari devi, the subsequent origin of the Vishakha guidelines and the foundation of the Sexual Harassment Act, 2013. She articulated that two decades back, there was no provision against sexual harassment. The public myth is that in incidence of sexual harassment, the problem lies solely with women. The incidence of sexual harassment is prevalent in public as well as private spaces, and the implicit/explicit aspects of sexual harassment were discussed. The case studies of #Metoo movement, were analysed to understand the patriarchal ethos/mentality in the perpetrator’s psyche. The socio-cultural barriers which hinder the filing of complaint against sexual harassment was highlighted. The speaker stressed upon the double-meaning jokes, showing of pornography, and gender-insensitive language. The subtle ways in which the sexual harassment takes place, was also elaborated upon.

 “What does not constitute sexual harassment”, like, performance appraisal for better job performance, office rules and working expectations, were explicitly mentioned. The workable solutions which emerged from the gendered discourse was need for generating more awareness regarding the act, keeping strict confidentiality of the aggrieved,  the constituents of the complaint, the number of days in which the complaint is to be filed, etc. The strong backlash if a woman files a complaint of sexual harassment was also discussed threadbare. Faster complaint redressal mechanisms and conciliation without monetary settlement was stressed upon. The enforcement of mandatory action, in case the complaint is proved, was also emphasized. Also, in case of a malicious complaint, action against the erring complainant was also highlighted. The speaker concluded her talk with suggesting more generation of awareness for the effective enforcement of the act at individual and institutional level, zero tolerance for sexual harassment at the workplace, and “A Safe Workplace is every woman’s right”. In a nutshell, the NCRB data revealed that 25% of rapists are punished. 

Dr. Rajesh K. Chander, Chairperson, in his opening remarks called for a society which is free of gender-based violence, and child marriage free. An egalitarian, safe and inclusive workplace for women can ensure the achievement of goal of gender equality in near future. In his formal vote of thanks; first and foremost, he thanked UGC, New Delhi, Prof. Renu Vig, Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Rumina Sethi, DUI, & Prof. Y.P. Verma, Registrar, and Prof. Pam Rajput, Prof. Manvinder Kaur, Prof. Monica Munjial Singh, Prof. Paramjeet Singh, and the DCWSD organising team for providing the motivation, encouragement and support to organise the sensitization programme. The expert lecture-cum-workshop was organised to sensitize the stakeholders; as advised by the University Grants Commission (UGC). The sensitization programme was well attended by participants across sciences & social sciences. Ms. Veerdeep Kaur, Project Associate, conducted the stage proceedings in the programme.