MARGAO: Bailancho Ekvott President Auda Viegas while complimenting the police officials of Margao Town and Maina Curtorim Police Stations for their dedication and commitment urged women to come forward to complain against sexual harassment at workplace while cautioning men to accept a “no” from female colleagues even if they are just fooling around.
Speaking to police personnel at a workshop organised under the aegis of Taluka Legal Services Committee, she admitted that in Goa male and female colleagues are quite relaxed and share all kinds of jokes. “However, when a female colleague says no, the male colleague should take it seriously,” she said.
Pointing out that The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 is heavily loaded in favour of women as it looks at every act from her perspective, she admitted and gave some examples where it has been misused by women.
She appreciated the work done by Maina Curtorim and Margao Police and in fact gave a commendation letter to the Superintendent of Police on behalf of Bailancho Ekvott and cautioned them that their workload would increase now that women are permitted to work in night shift.
“You must prepare water tight cases so that there are conviction as only convictions will instil fear in people from repeating those crimes,” she said pointing out that work place can even public place where one has to go with regards to the work.
“Innate modesty and fear of family reactions most often deter women from complaining and she suffers due to that with some even committing suicide,” she said urging women to speak out when they feel uncomfortable.
Addressing the police personnel Advocate Bruce Xavier Fernandes said that while the Indian judicial system is accused friendly, the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act is different as it upholds the “no means no” principle.
He explained what stalking and voyeurism mean and pointed out that most cases are lost in the courts by the prosecution because of shoddy investigations and hence advised the police personnel to carry out thorough investigations mentioning the minute detail.
Explaining the genesis of the Act, Advocate S Kothare said harassment could be verbal, visual, physical and psychological; harassment vitiates the work environment and affects the victim woman adversely, compelling her to remain absent thus losing out on promotions, etc.
She explained the requirements in the complaints and what happens when a complaint is lodged. However, the most important thing is to ensure that the complaint committee is constituted in the office that has more than 10 male and female workers.
Auda whose Bailancho Ekvott was celebrating its 26 anniversary cautioned that absence of such complaint committee will straight away attract a fine of Rs 50,000.
