Gender Platform Law Demands an End to Sexual Harassment at workplace
A conference has been held in Dhaka to demand the guidelines for the formulation and implementation of sexual harassment prevention and protection laws in all workplaces and educational institutions. The conference was attended by Advocate Salma Ali, President of the Bangladesh Women Lawyers Association, Advocate Nazma Yasmin, director of the Institute of Labour Studies, and ZM Kamrul Anam, Secretary of Bangladesh Labour Foundations. A writ has been filed by Bangladesh Women Lawyers Association for ensuring a sexual harassment-free workplace. A separate law is needed to prevent sexual harassment. With the anti-sexual harassment recommendations, five specific demands were made, including the establishing of committees to combat sexual harassment in all sorts of workplaces and educational institutions. To create a work environment free of sexual harassment, legislation to combat sexual harassment in all workplaces should be passed soon. The International Labour Organization’s Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women must be ratified. Benefits for the unemployed, social security, and insurance coverage must be ensured.