Himachal High Court organises awareness programme on workplace safety and She-Box Portal for women employees
Shimla, August 1
The Internal Complaints Committee of the High Court of Himachal Pradesh organised an awareness programme on the Prevention of Sexual Harassment of Women at the Workplace and the She-Box Portal for all women employees working in the High Court Registry on Saturday at 11:30 A.M. at the High Court of Himachal Pradesh, Shimla.
Senior Advocate Sunita Sharma, acting as a subject expert, shed light on the main provisions of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, the Vishaka Guidelines of 1997, and relevant judgments of the Supreme Court and High Courts, including the landmark judgment in Vishaka vs State of Rajasthan, which led to the enactment of the Act.
Sumitra Chandel, a social activist and subject expert, spoke about the need for the Act and its purpose, which encompasses the prevention, prohibition, and redressal of sexual harassment at the workplace. She explained the meaning and scope of sexual harassment under the Act and elaborated upon the provisions relating to the formation of the Internal Complaints Committee.
The Nodal Officer of the She-Box Portal briefed participants about the She-Box Portal, an online complaint management platform available on the website for the redressal of complaints relating to the sexual harassment of women at the workplace.
The programme was attended by women employees of the High Court Registry and was organised to spread awareness about the rights of women employees and the mechanisms available for the redressal of sexual harassment complaints at the workplace.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Good initiative, but awareness programmes alone won't solve the problem. There needs to be strict implementation of the Act and proper training for the ICC members. Hope this isn't just a one-time event and they follow up with regular sessions.
Very proud to see our judiciary taking proactive steps. The Vishaka guidelines have been around since 1997, but awareness is still low in many workplaces. This is a great example for other institutions to follow. 🙏
The She-Box portal is a game-changer! It makes filing complaints so much easier and more confidential. I just wish more state institutions would organize such programmes. Better late than never, I suppose.
It's heartening to see the High Court leading by example. Such awareness programmes should also extend to smaller courts and rural institutions where women often don't know their rights. The more we talk about it, the more empowered women will feel to report harassment.
This is a positive step, but I hope the Internal Complaints Committee actually functions effectively. Many ICCs exist only on paper in various organizations. The real test will be how complaints are handled and resolved. Hoping for the best!
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