Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: NGO Mehergarh organised a three-day residential training programme on Protection against Harassment of Women at Workplace, over the weekend.

Representatives of the State Bank of Pakistan, Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority, Institute of Rural Management, COMSATS Institute of Information & Technology, National University of Medical Sciences, Quaid-e-Azam University and National Press Club Islamabad came to learn how to implement the laws to make their workplaces dignified and also hot to handle the cases of sexual harassment fairly.

The training programme proved to be quite comprehensive, and was especially designed to train the Standing Inquiry Committee Members. Trainers covered the issue of sexual harassment, with the myths and facts that exist in the society for the conceptual clarity of the participants, detail procedures prescribed in the law for effective implementation and handling the cases of sexual harassment which usually arise without any evidence and witness.

Organisations that needed help in the compliance process approached Mehergarh themselves and informed the NGO that their Standing Inquiry Committee Members and HR professionals requited training. The NGO specialises in conducting training that changes people’s mindset. There is a shift in the trend, where national level organisations are forming committees in different regions or cities and requesting Mehergarh to train all of their committee members.

“This was a very fruitful activity for all of us and I believe coming from different and diverse organisations was a great opportunity for us to learn from one another and develop linkages for future cooperation and collaboration for effective implementation of this law,” a lecturer lecturer from COMSATS Anila Nosheen said.

“It is very encouraging that now after eight years of this law being passed, organisations are approaching us for deepening their level of understanding for an effective implementation in letter and spirit,” Mehergarh Executive Director Maliha Husain said.

Renowned social activist and gender expert Dr Fouzia Saeed was the chief guest at the conclusion of the training programme. The group asked her a lot of questions about the process of getting these laws passed and what always kept her going at face of adversity.

“It is these challenges and cases like Zainab’s that keep my commitment strong. We all have to play our part in cleaning out our society if we want our ‘Zainabs’ to be saved,” she said.

Dr Fouzia Saeed distributed certificates at the end and also a copy of her book Working with Sharks to each of the participants. The participants also got a chance to have their books signed by Dr Fouzia.

Towards the end of the event, the participants thanked her for being such an inspiration for so many of them and lauded her ongoing efforts towards protecting the rights of Pakistani people and improving the image of the country abroad.

Published in Daily Times, February  20th  2018.