The National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) has decided to go through regulatory bodies and other umbrella organisations for implementation of Protection Against Harassment of Women at Workplace Act 2010. Civil society organisations conducted more than 150 awareness sessions and the commission was able to reach out to more than 10,000 people, face to face, both from the rural and urban areas of Pakistan.
Besides, the government conducted more than 50 awareness sessions for senior management and staff mostly in centre and Punjab. The NCSW and AASHA website (www.aasha.org.pk) provides English and Urdu materials to all and AASHA Youtube & Facebook page is an interactive hub for youth. In addition, booklets, brochures, posters, stickers and videos are available in AASHA secretariat. Other civil society organisations are printing promotional material like pens, key chains, stickers etc.
The commission has conducted 10 training session of trainers so far and prepared almost 250 trainers who are further spreading the message in their respective regions and sectors countrywide. In order to provide direct support to women who want to register the cases of sexual harassment under the legislation are supported by six Legal Aid Centers of AASHA located in Islamabad, Lahore, Hyderabad, Peshawar, Karachi and Multan.
The cases from both public and private sector are coming for advice and support to these legal aid centers. Senior Police officers in Islamabad are committed to include awareness on anti sexual harassment legislation to the police. An IG order related to the subject has been issued; committees have been formed as required in the act for the Police personnel.
A specific poster to educate about procedures has been posted in every police station. A specific section on the laws in the regular courses of the police academy has been incorporated. This is only a humble beginning in the long journey of transformation of our police mindset. The implementation of anti sexual harassment legislation has also started at district level and Attock has become a model district by forming almost 100 inquiry committees.