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ISLAMABAD (manend news) The Special Committee on Gender Mainstreaming on Wednesday called for stronger implementation of anti-harassment laws and closer coordination among state institutions to ensure safe and inclusive workplaces across the country.
The committee met at the Secretariat of the Federal Ombudsperson for Protection against Harassment (Fospah) under the chairpersonship of MNA Dr Nafisa Shah.
During the session, the Federal Ombudsperson Fauzia Viqar briefed members on the mandate, institutional structure and performance of the office, established under the Protection against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act, 2010, later amended in 2022.
The briefing also covered the Enforcement of Women’s Property Rights Act, 2020, and the Federal Ombudsmen Institutional Reforms Act, 2013.
The ombudsperson explained the complaint filing procedure and remedies available to victims, while highlighting key challenges in delivering timely justice. These included limited cooperation from certain departments, as well as administrative and financial constraints.
She sought the committee’s support in expediting legislative amendments, strengthening parliamentary oversight and ensuring adequate budgetary allocations.
Greater coordination with police, labour departments, regulators and civil courts was also identified as essential for effective enforcement of decisions.
The committee commended Fospah’s recent performance, particularly what it described as bold and precedent-setting orders in cases involving harassment in educational institutions.
Members noted that such interventions had reinforced accountability and clarified institutional responsibility.
Dr Nafisa Shah observed that certain provisions relating to women’s property rights appeared to overlap with the jurisdiction of sessions courts, potentially creating procedural ambiguities.
She stressed the need for a comprehensive legal review to harmonise relevant statutes, remove contradictions and ensure clarity in adjudication. Emphasising the importance of accessibility, she called for strengthening Fospah’s presence at the provincial level through enhanced human resources and operational capacity.
Improved coordination with provincial home departments, police, labour authorities and social welfare institutions, she said, was vital for seamless enforcement of orders.
The chairperson also proposed a streamlined, joint mechanism for handling harassment complaints to minimise duplication of proceedings, reduce delays and ensure a victim-centerd approach.
She further advocated establishing a dedicated research wing within Fospah to collect gender-disaggregateddata, analyse emerging trends and support evidence-based policy and legislative reforms.
The committee expressed grave concern over increasing reports of harassment in educational institutions and urged the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to adopt a more proactive and transparent approach.
It stressed that complaints must be handled with seriousness and sensitivity, and not dismissed without proper inquiry. The HEC was asked to strengthen oversight, ensure effective functioning of anti-harassment committees in universities and take time-bound steps to restore confidence in redressal mechanisms.
Members also recommended a comprehensive review of the existing policy framework to enhance accountability, victim protection and institutional responsibility.
A nationwide awareness campaign was proposed to improve public understanding of harassment laws and complaint mechanisms, using both traditional and digital media platforms in coordination with regulators, including the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority.
The meeting was attended by senators Rubina Qaim Khani and Khalida Ateeb, MNAs Shahida Rehmani and Shahida Begum, along with senior officials from Fospah and the Ministry of Human Rights.