Udhampur: An awareness camp on Gender Sensitization and Sexual Harassment of women at work places was held here on Saturday at District court complex Udhampur. The camp was organized by newly constituted Gender Sensitization and Local Complaint Committee (GSLCC) Udhampur.
The camp was aimed to bring awareness among the women and men regarding sexual harassment i.e. identifying sexual harassment, providing preventive and legal measures against sexual harassment as well as to protect oneself both physically and mentally from any other kind of harassment.
In the awareness camp Principal District and Session Judge Udhampur K.S Parihar, Presiding Officer GSLCC, Sub Judge Special Mobile Magistrate Udhampur Sandeep Kour and Additional Mobile Magistrate Udhampur Anjana Rajput laid thrust on need of women coming forward for protecting their rights through in-depth knowledge of the matter.
While addressing the gathering, Judges said sexual harassment of women at workplace is a very serious issue. They added that women should come forward and raise voice against sexual harassment before newly constituted committee at District court.
The judge said though strict laws acted as deterrent for the offenders but any such incident of harassment causes an irreparable damage to the psyche of the women. They said harassment could only be contained by raising awareness among people. Speakers further added that women must also be made aware of the rights and the department committees should also play their role well to safeguard the interests of the women.
Meanwhile, batting for effective implementation of the framed laws to check this abuse, GSLCC Members which include Advocates Ranjit Parihar, Amit Sharma, Shallo Khajuria, Shehnaz , Anshu Sharma and social worker Rama Gupta said women have left an indelible imprint in every field in the society.
They advocated the need for evolving a viable mechanism for effective redressal of complaints regarding the harassment of women at workplaces. They also underscored the need for sensitizing women and girls about the various provisions of Sexual Harassment of Women work place (Prevention, Prohibition & Redressal) Act 2013, so that they are well versed with their rights.
Beside employees working in courts, Bar members and large number of public at large attended the camp and welcomed the initiative of the GSLCC to organize this Camp.