Anti-sexual Harassment

Anti Sexual Harassment Committee

With regard to the Supreme Court Judgment and guidelines issued in 1997 to provide for the effective enforcement of the basic human right of gender equality and guarantee against sexual harassment and abuse, more particularly against sexual harassment at work places, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued circulars since 1998, to all the universities, advising them to establish a permanent cell and a committee and to develop guidelines to combat sexual harassment, violence against student’s & women at the universities and colleges. It has further advised the universities to be proactive by developing a conducive atmosphere on the campus, where the status of woman is respected and they are treated with. Keeping the above guidelines in view the college has constituted a Committee against Sexual Harassment since 2010.

Objectives of the Committee

  • Prevent discrimination and sexual harassment against women, by promoting gender amity among students and employees;
  • Make recommendations to the Principal for changes/elaborations in the Rules for students in the Prospectus and the Bye-Laws, to make them gender just and to lay down procedures for the prohibition, resolution, settlement and prosecution of acts of discrimination and sexual harassment against women, by the students and the employees;
  • 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;

Procedure for Approaching Committee

The Committee deals with issues relating to sexual harassment at the college. 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 Coordinator of the Committee or can be dropped in the suggestion box. If the complaint is made to the Principal, Vice Principal or any of the Committee members, they may forward it to the Coordinator of the Committee against Sexual Harassment.

Here it should be noted that according to the Supreme Court guideline Sexual harassment can be defined as “unwelcome” sexually determined behavior (whether directly or by implication) as:

  • Physical contact and advances
  • Demand or request for sexual favors
  • Sexually coloured remarks
  • Showing pornography
  • Other unwelcome physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct of a sexual nature. (Vishaka judgment by Supreme Court)

Rules Against Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment is illegal and very costly, to both individuals and institutions. It creates an unproductive and disruptive environment that has far reaching negative impacts. The following information is designed to help with recognition and prevention of sexual harassment, as well as provide strategies for individual and institutional responses.
It is an illegal form of sex discrimination, which is prohibited by Title VII of the Federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 USC § 2000e), Title IX of the Federal Education Act of 1972 (20 USC § 1681a), and Kentucky’s Civil Rights Act (KRS 344).

Sexual harassment laws are violated when submission to or rejection of this conduct

  • explicitly or implicitly affects an individual’s employment or education,
  • unreasonably interferes with an individual’s performance or promotion, or
  • creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work or learning environment.
  • If You Are An Employer or Educational Institution remember that failure to prevent and/or stop harassment can result in liability and penalties.
  • Develop a clear sexual harassment policy, to be distributed to all personnel and students/parents.
  • Establish and publicize a confidential grievance procedure.
  • Train key personnel on how to identify, report, and address sexual harassment.
  • Include information about sexual harassment in all orientation trainings, as well as in other settings.
  • Include information about sexual harassment in routine or periodic trainings and publications.
  • Prominently post guidelines prohibiting sexual harassment.
  • Respond swiftly to all complaints, formal and informal.
  • Consistently apply consequences to perpetrators and send the message that harassment absolutely is not tolerated.
  • Provide adequate supervision and security.
  • Promote discussions of sexual harassment and bullying.
  • Ask other workers and students to report.
  • Promote collaboration between victims’ service providers and Title IX officers or Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) officers

 

The following is also sexual harassment and is covered by the committee:

  • Eve-teasing,
  • unpleasant remarks,
  • Jokes causing or likely to cause awkwardness or embarrassment,
  • Innuendos and taunts,
  • Gender based insults or sexist remarks,
  • Unwelcome sexual overtone in any manner such as over telephone (obnoxious telephone calls) and the like,
  • Touching or brushing against any part of the body and the like,
  • Displaying pornographic or other offensive or derogatory pictures, cartoons, pamphlets or sayings,
  • Forcible physical touch or molestation and
  • Physical confinement against one’s will and any other act likely to violate one’s privacy.

As Per the guidelines of UGC/Department of Higher Education, Govt. of Maharashtra, Anti Sexual Harassment Committee is reconstituted with the following members to prohibit, prevent and eliminate the scourge of sexual harassment in the campus of SPDM Arts, SBB and SHD Commerce and SMA Science College, Shirpur.