SEXUAL HARASSMENT AT WORK PLACE – A BARRIER TO GENDER EQUALITY
AUTHOR – DR. K. GOWRI, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, GOVERNMENT LAW COLLEGE, TIRUCHIRAPPALLI, TAMIL NADU – 620003
BEST CITATION – DR. K. GOWRI, SEXUAL HARASSMENT AT WORK PLACE – A BARRIER TO GENDER EQUALITY, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 4 (4) OF 2024, PG. 665-673, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344.
ABSTRACT
Sexual harassment is a reprehensible crime committed against women which has a direct impact socially and psychologically. It has become a common occurrence on women around the globe and India is no exception. A survey reports that 56% women are victims of sexual harassment at the workplace and 53% women have been subject to sexual comments, gestures, jokes at the workplace[1]. In order to foster a stable and friendly work environment to encourage women, secure their social and economic empowerment and equitable growth, the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013[2] (hereinafter referred to as POSH Act) was drafted. The need for the Act was very much felt after the Vishaka judgment and it took 17 years after the judgment to enact and implement the POSH Act, 2013. Vishaka vs State of Rajasthan[3] dealt with such related aspects and the Apex Court defined Sexual Harassment as “including an uninvited or unwelcome sexual favour or sexual gestures from one gender towards the other gender”[4].
Harassment on women can be in various forms, especially at work place which is one importance factor contributing to gender inequalities. This paper concentrates on causes for harassment at work place, legal framework in India, barriers to women empowerment, need to achieve gender equality as a goal of sustainable development and appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination.
Key Words: Sexual Harassment, women empowerment, gender inequality, sustainable development goals, work place.
[1]https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/more-than-50-women-professionals-believe-sexual-harassment-at-the-workplace-has-increased-over-the-years-survey/articleshow/69855500.cms, Published June 19, 2019
[2]Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013
[3](1997) 7 S.C.C. 323
[4] Vishaka vs. State of Rajasthan (AIR 1997 SC 3011)