Daily Times

Federal Ombudsperson for Protection against Harassment of Women (FOSPAH) at the Workplaces, Kashmala Tariq, on Tuesday, warned men that sending good morning text messages to female was tantamount to harassment,

She said this in her address at an event held to commemorate International Women’s Day at the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI)

Kashmala urged women to consider intimidation or stalking via mobile phones, or inappropriate messages at social media, including Facebook and Instagram, as harassment and report any such activity to FOSPAH as it did not solely cater to complaints of sexual harassment.

Stressing on gender equality, and respectful behaviour from employers, the ombudsperson asked participants to raise awareness among fellow members with respect to workplace harassment.

Kashmala remarked that women should be made aware of their rights and not tolerate any sort of injustice. She maintained that all institutions, offices and organisations should have internal harassment committees and report their status of compliance with the law on workplace harassment.

She lauded efforts undertaken by RCCI to promote women entrepreneurship while added that these businesswomen were playing a remarkable role in the economic uplift of the country.

FOSPAH not intended to register solely sexual harassment complaints

Women were breaking all taboos and social barriers and could now be seen working in sectors other than conventional ones, she continued while quoting examples of fields like information technology, air force and even corporate leadership.

Somalian Ambassador, Khadija Muhammad, also spoke on the occasion and highlighted the role of women along with their responsibilities and rights enshrined in the Islamic teachings. She added that she was supported by her mother and husband when she served in Iraq during the war.

Earlier, RCCI President, Malik Shahid Saleem, said in his welcoming remarks that the chamber wished to acknowledge the female contributions in uplifting the socio-economic conditions of the country through this celebration of women’s day. He remarked that no nation could make progress without the progress of its women.

Rawalpindi Chamber was said to have always welcomed female participation in its activities designed to bring forth change in businesses.

RCCI had established an incubation centre for businesswomen to provide them with an equipped place to display their products as well as hold meetings to promote their businesses, he added.

Published in Daily Times, March 20^th 2019.