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Sexual Harrasment Redefined--- Is it excess?

TopCat

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HC lays down sexual harassment guidelines
Dhaka, May 14 (bdnews24.com)—The High Court on Thursday laid down a set of guidelines to prevent sexual harassment on women and children at work places, educational institutions and on the streets.

It has defined the harassment and said the compliance of the guidelines was mandatory until those were passed into law in parliament.

The bench of justices Syed Mahmud Hossain and Kamrul Islam Siddiqui gave the rulings on a petition filed in public interest by executive director of Bangladesh National Women Lawyers' Association Salma Ali.

The petition was filed on Aug 7 last year following an incident of sexual harassment against a teacher of drama and dramatics at Jahangirnagar University.

The court in the guidelines asked authorities to set up sexual harassment complaint centres at work places, educational institutions and constitute committees to investigate charges.

A woman will head such committee that will have no fewer than five members, mostly women .

Sexually suggestive remarks directly or on the phone, indecent email, giving indecent looks and calling someone 'Sundori' in a bad sense will be admitted as sexual harassment in court.

"This revolutionary verdict will work as an amulet in preventing sexual harassment," said Ali told reporters after the ruling.

The guidelines say names of the complainants and defendants will be be made before one is proved guilty.
Lawyers can lodge complaint on behalf of the complainant and the security of the complainant must be ensured, the ruling said. Female complainants will be able to lodge complaint separately. The accused will be handed over to the police after he is proved guilty, says the guideline.

Hostile environment at work and educational institutions should be prevented. Divisional action should be taken against those responsible for sexual harassment at workplace, teh court said.

The punishment for sexual abuse can be both fine and imprisonment, said Fawzia Karim, lawyer for the petitioner.

After the petition was filed, the High Court asked the government and others concerned to explain why guidelines on sexual harassment will not be given.

The cabinet secretary, law secretary, women and children affairs secretary, labour secretary, chairman of Dhaka University Grant Commission and vice chancellors of Dhaka and Jahangirnagar universities were asked to reply.


Another emotionally driven law and a good platform for exploitation...

Can anybody define what is "giving indecent look????"
 
Hmmm I don't understand your objection... In 95% of all professional work places, calling your colleague, a Sundari, would be termed highly inappropriate. Same goes for indecent looks.

Of course everything goes along with some good judgment. Know what would get you sued and what wouldn't.
 
Well in Bangladesh a similar law "Women and child repression act" which is grossly abused. 80% of the case filed under that section are proved to be false. Under that act you dont get bail before the case is settled and people just spend years behind the bar for the crime they probably did not commit and forced to come to terms of the accusers.
 
Well in Bangladesh a similar law "Women and child repression act" which is grossly abused. 80% of the case filed under that section are proved to be false. Under that act you dont get bail before the case is settled and people just spend years behind the bar for the crime they probably did not commit and forced to come to terms of the accusers.

Looks like an implementation issue, just like with all other laws in developeing countries. Nothing wrong with the law in my opinion.
 
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