Faisalabad: February 19, 2015. (PCP) Peace and Human Development (PHD) Foundation and Association of Women for Awareness & Motivation (AWAM) staged a protest demonstration under ‘Sexual Harassment out (SHout) Campaign’ to mark “National Women’s Day” held on February 12, 2015 at Faisalabad. The demonstration was joined by large number of women hailing from different communities and various socio-economic backgrounds. The participants of the rally were holding placards and images of megaphones as a symbol to express their opposition to sexual harassment. They enchanted slogans against different forms of sexual harassment in Pakistan. At this juncture, the demonstrators demanded that the government must take substantive measure to devise an efficient monitoring mechanism to check the practice of anti-harassment law, and ensure a safe working environment for half of the country’s population. Speaking on the occasion, the director of the Peace and Human Development (PHD) Foundation, Suneel Malik said, “The sexual harassment out (SHout) campaign aims at advocating for greater awareness about sexual harassment and how to deal with cases when experiencing or witnessing harassment.” “The employers should adhere to legal codes and policies about sexual harassment, and educate their employees about channels for redress, if they experience sexual harassment. They must hold perpetrators of sexual harassment accountable for their actions to set the precedent that it is not acceptable behaviour at workplaces, as it is a crime with legal repercussions as well as a human rights abuse,” he added. A women rights activist, Shazia George said, “The sexual harassment out (SHout) campaign calls for mobilizing people and changing mindsets that hamper not only women’s efficiency at home and work, but make their personal and professional life extremely stressful. The campaign is an attempt to curb reactions and perceptions that put the blame on women for being the cause of sexual harassment or provoking it.” “The work environment for women in Pakistan is often hostile and antagonistic hindering their contribution to their county’s development. The social constraints and an aggressive work environment discourage women from seeking employment,” she added. The director of the AWAM, Nazia Sardar said, “The vast majority of sexual offences go unreported and of those that are reported few result in prosecutions and even fewer in convictions, due to stigma attributed to victims in Pakistan. In most cases, victims of sexual harassment remain in a constant dilemma either to quit their jobs or to compromise and continue working in a non-conducive environment.” “Women workers are usually targeted for working in subordinate positions. Harassment of women at workplace is one of those problems which discourage women in taking active part in social, political and economic development of society,” she added. A women rights activist, Amina Zaman said, “The anti-sexual harassment law aims to create a working environment that is safe from harassment, abuse and intimidation and enables women across the country to maximize their work productivity and contribute towards the development of the country. The government has approved Code of Conduct for Gender Justice; a policy document to address sexual harassment, therefore this code should be institutionalized in all government and private offices, educational institutions, hospitals, factories and all other work places.” A women rights activist, Zarfishan Nasir said, “The sexual harassment is defined as unwanted and unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favours or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature that interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment. The sexual harassment is recognized as a crime in Pakistan since 2010, but the existing monitoring system in Pakistan has loopholes, therefore it doesn’t address the issue of strict implementation of laws protecting women in an effective manner.” A human rights activist, Faisal Rasheed said, “Research should be done as to the cost implications of sexual harassment in the workplace so as to persuade employers that it is in their interest to address this issue. Sexual harassment has adverse affects for companies and organizations; it entails loss of revenue, loss of valued employees and has a negative impact on the organizations’ repute.”