An Anti-Sexual Harassment Committee, also known as an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) or Sexual Harassment Prevention Committee, is a body established within an organization to address complaints and concerns related to sexual harassment in the workplace. These committees are typically mandated by law in many countries to ensure a safe and harassment-free work environment for all employees.
OBJECTIVES
i) To prevent discrimination and sexual harassment against women, by promoting gender amity among students and employees;
ii) To develop and implement policies, procedures, and programs aimed at preventing sexual harassment in the workplace.
iii) To promote a culture of respect, dignity, and professionalism within the organization.
iv) To conduct training sessions and workshops for employees to educate them about sexual harassment prevention, recognition, and reporting.
v) To provide a safe and confidential mechanism for employees to report incidents of sexual harassment and offer support and assistance to victims of sexual harassment, including access to counseling or other resources.
vi) To recommend appropriate punitive action against the guilty party to the Principal.
Procedure for approaching the committee
The Committee deals with issues relating to sexual harassment at the Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Khalsa College, Sri Anandpur Sahib, Ropar. It is applicable to all students, staff and faculty. A complaint of discrimination or sexual harassment can be lodged by the victim or a third party. A written complaint can be addressed to the Convener of the Committee. If the complaint is made to the Committee members, they can forward it to the Convener 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 behaviour (whether directly or by implication) as
- Physical contact and advances;
- Demand or request for sexual favours;
- Sexually coloured remarks;
- Showing pornography; and
- Other unwelcome physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct of a sexual nature. (Vishaka judgment by Supreme Court).
The following is also sexual harassment and is covered by the committee
- Eve-teasing
- Unsavoury remarks
- Jokes causing or likely to cause awkwardness or embarrassment.
- Gender based insults or sexist remarks.
- Innuendos and taunts.
- Unwelcomed 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.
- Physical confinement against one’s will and any other act likely to violate One’s Privacy.
Action
1. The committee shall on completion of the enquiry provide a report of its finding within 02 days from the date of completion of the enquiry and such report shall be made available to the concerned parties
2. If the allegation against the respondent has not been proved, the committee may recommend that no action needs to be taken in this matter.
3. If the Anti-Sexual Harassment Committee arrives at the conclusion that the allegation against the respondent has been proved, it shall recommend to:
i) Take action for sexual harassment as misconduct.
ii) To tender written apology to the complainant, issue warning, withholding of promotions/ increments of the respondent, terminating the respondent.
| Dr. Paramjit Kaur (Convenor) |
| Dr. Deep Shikha |
| Mrs. Parvinder Kaur |
| Dr. Tejinder Kaur |
| Mrs. Mandeep Kaur (Librarian) |
| Mrs. Simranjeet Kaur (Accounts Clerk) |
| Mr. Tajinder Singh (Lab Assistant) |
| Mr. Ajay Talwar (Lawyer) |