ANTI SEXUAL HARASSMENT CELL

ANTI SEXUAL HARASSMENT CELL

• To provide a neutral, confidential and supportive environment for members of the campus community who may have been sexually harassed.

• To deal with cases of discrimination and sexual harassment against women, in a time bound manner, aiming at ensuring support services to the victimized and termination of the harassment.

• To provide information regarding counseling and support services in our campus.

• To ensure that students, faculty and staff are provided with current and comprehensive materials on sexual harassment and assault.

• To promote awareness about sexual harassment through educational initiatives which encourages and foster a respectful and safe campus environment

• To develop guidelines and norms for a policy against sexual harassment.

• To develop principles and procedures for combating sexual harassment.

• To work out details for the implementation of the policy.

• To prepare a detailed plan of actions, both short and long term.

• To collaborate with the Women’s Cell, Ansar Women’s College.

• To organize gender sensitization awareness programmes.

DEFINITION

According to THE SEXUAL HARASSMENT OF WOMEN AT THE WORKPLACE (PREVENTION, PROHIBITION AND REDRESSAL) ACT 2013, sexual harassment includes any one or more of the following unwelcome acts or behavior (whether directly or by implication) namely:

• Physical contact and advances; or
• A demand or request for sexual favors; or
• Making sexually colored remarks; or
• Showing pornography; or
• Any other unwelcome physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct of sexual nature.
• Any act falling under the purview of following cases will be considered as an incident of sexual harassment

Why is it important?

Any student/staff member can be a potential victim and hence it’s important for everyone to understand how to recognize and deal with sexual harassment.

Potential consequence for a student seen as a harasser – disciplinary action could be in the form of warning, written apology, debarring entry into a hostel/ campus, suspension for a specific period of time, debarring from holding posts such as member of committees or even expulsion. 

Potential consequence for a staff member seen as a harasser – disciplinary action could be in the form of warning, written apology, stoppage of increment, withholding of promotion, debarring entry into campus, suspension for a specific period of time, debarring from holding posts such as member of committees or even dismissal.

Procedure for Approaching Cell

The Cell deals with issues relating to sexual harassment in the college campus. It is applicable to all students, staff and faculty. A complaint of discrimination or sexual harassment may be lodged by the victim or a third party. A written complaint may be addressed to the Convenor of the Committee. If the complaint is made to the Principal, or any of the Committee members, they may forward it to the Convenor of the Committee Against Sexual Harassment.

What to do if you feel you are being sexually harassed?

• Know your rights – Sexual harassment is illegal.
• Speak up – try telling the person to stop. State clearly and firmly that you want a particular behavior to cease.
• Get information and support – If you feel you cannot speak up, ask your friends to help you and bring it to the notice of the College authorities without further loss of time.
• Keep records that might be useful for pursuing the case.

What not to do

• Do not blame yourself. Sexual harassment is not something one brings on oneself. It is not a consequence of certain ways of dressing or acting. It is a violation of an individual’s right to work and live with dignity.
• Do not ignore it. Ignoring sexual harassment does not make it go away. The harasser may misinterpret a lack of response as approval of the behavior.
• Do not delay. Delay in action increases the probability that unwanted behavior will continue or escalate.
• Do not hesitate to ask for help. Speaking up may also prevent others from being harmed.

Steps you can take:

• Inform Class Teacher, HoD or Members of Women Cell or Anti Sexual Harassment Cell.
• Approach the Grievance Redressal Cell for Women and file a written complaint.

Internal Complaints Committee

Complaints Committee was duly formed in the college to look into, and adjudicate matters relating to any kind of sexual harassment meted out to students or female employees in the institution.To that end the college has been vigilant about instances of gender discrimination, victimization and abuse, and acts promptly to address/redress any issues that violated the provisions of the said Act. Moreover, it plays a proactive role in averting instances of sexual harassment by motivating students to attend the programmes organized by the Women’s Cell of the college on gender discrimination, and sexual harassment.

IF YOU FACE ANY SEXUAL VIOLENCE, REGISTER YOUR COMPLAINTS

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ACTIVITIES

An Induction ceremony was conducted wherein students were sensitized by the Principal about the security and safety measures adopted by the college for them. The cell provided awareness sessions about sexual abuse in online classes with the help of teachers. Anti-sexual harassment cell and Women Empowerment Cell in collaboration with other departments conducted different activities to provide a platform for students to share their experience and tension during the pandemic COVID 19.