Anti-sexual Harassment Cell

ANTI SEXUAL HARASSMENT CELL is committed in moulding a generation which safeguards the virtues of gender equality and equity. The institution attempts to uphold the constitutional mandate ensuring the human rights of all those who fall within its jurisdiction. As per the guidelines of UGC, NAAC and the Supreme Court an Anti-Sexual Harassment Cell was established in Ideal Arts and Science College to provide a healthy and congenial atmosphere to the staff and students of the College. The Cell meets the following objectives:

• To provide a neutral, confidential and supportive environment for members of the campus community who may have been sexually harassed.

• To 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.

• To provide information regarding counselling and support services in our campus.

• To ensure that students, faculty and staff are provided with current and comprehensive materials on sexual harassment and assault.

• To promote awareness about sexual harassment through educational initiatives which encourages and foster a respectful and safe campus environment

• To develop guidelines and norms for a policy against sexual harassment.

• To develop principles and procedures for combating sexual harassment.

• To work out details for the implementation of the policy.

• To prepare a detailed plan of actions, both short and long term.

• To collaborate with the Women’s Cell, Ansar Women’s College.

• To organize gender sensitization awareness programmes.

DEFINITION

According to THE SEXUAL HARASSMENT OF WOMEN AT THE WORKPLACE (PREVENTION, PROHIBITION AND REDRESSAL) ACT 2013, sexual harassment includes any one or more of the following unwelcome acts or behaviour (whether directly or by implication) namely:

• Verbal or Physical threats.

• Insulting, Abusive, Embarrassing or Patronizing behaviour or Comments.

• Offensive gestures, Language, Rumours, Gossip or Jokes.

• Humiliating, Intimidating, Demeaning and/or Persistent criticism, Open hostility.

• Suggestive comments or Body language.

• Isolation or Exclusion from normal work or study place.

• Publishing, Circulating or Displaying pornographic, Racist, Sexually suggestive or Otherwise offensive pictures or other materials.

• Unwanted physical contact, Ranging from an invasion of space to a serious assault (The above list is not intended to be exhaustive).

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

• 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

• Physical confinement against one’s will and any other act likely to violate one’s privacy

Anti-Sexual Harassment Cell assures all the complaints of the students, teaching and non-teaching staffs are treated with dignity and respect and the complaints should be maintained confidential.

False Reporting: Intentionally making a false report or providing false information is grounds for indiscipline.

Why is it important?

Any student/staff member can be a potential victim and hence it’s important for everyone to understand how to recognize and deal with sexual harassment.

Potential consequence for a student seen as a harasser – disciplinary action could be in the form of warning, written apology, debarring entry into a hostel/ campus, suspension for a specific period of time, debarring from holding posts such as member of committees or even expulsion.

Potential consequence for a staff member seen as a harasser – disciplinary action could be in the form of warning, written apology, stoppage of increment, withholding of promotion, debarring entry into campus, suspension for a specific period of time, debarring from holding posts such as member of committees or even dismissal.

Procedure for Approaching Cell

The Cell deals with issues relating to sexual harassment in the college campus. 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 Convenor of the Committee. If the complaint is made to the Principal, or any of the Committee members, they may forward it to the Convenor of the Committee against Sexual Harassment.

What to do if you feel you are being sexually harassed?

• Know your rights – Sexual harassment is illegal.

• Speak up – try telling the person to stop. State clearly and firmly that you want a particular behaviour to cease.

• Get information and support – If you feel you cannot speak up, ask your friends to help you and bring it to the notice of the College authorities without further loss of time.

• Keep records - that might be useful for pursuing the case.

What not to do

• Do not blame yourself. Sexual harassment is not something one brings on oneself. It is not a consequence of certain ways of dressing or acting. It is a violation of an individual’s right to work and live with dignity.

• Do not ignore it. Ignoring sexual harassment does not make it go away. The harasser may misinterpret a lack of response as approval of the behaviour.

• Do not delay. Delay in action increases the probability that unwanted behaviour will continue or escalate.

• Do not hesitate to ask for help. Speaking up might also prevent others from being harmed.

STEPS YOU CAN TAKE:

Inform Class Teacher, HOD or Members of Women Cell or Anti Sexual Harassment Cell.

Approach the Grievance Redressal Cell for Women and file a written complaint.

Here is the report on the activities planned and to be implemented in the academic year by the Anti-sexual harassment cell.

• An Internal Complaints Committee along with the gender equality cell and Women’s cell is to be formed including senior staffs to deal with the matters and complaint on the sexual harassment.

Internal Complaints Committee

Complaints Committee was duly formed in the college to look into, and adjudicate matters relating to any kind of sexual harassment meted out to students or female employees in the institution. To that end the college has been vigilant about instances of gender discrimination, victimization and abuse, and acts promptly to address/redress any issues that violated the provisions of the said Act. Moreover, it plays a proactive role in averting instances of sexual harassment by motivating students to attend the programmes organized by the Women’s Cell of the college on gender discrimination, and sexual harassment.

• A parent attachment programme is planned wherein an awareness session will be organized about the security and safety measures adopted by the college. The cell will be providing awareness sessions about sexual abuse in online classes with the help of teachers.

• The cell is planning to conduct a legal awareness class in connection with National Legal Services Day on 9 November.

• The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is observed on November 25, every year. A poster making competition based on the theme “Awareness on Bullying and Sexual Harassment in Institutions”, “Eve Teasing and its impact on Adolescents” and “Awareness on sexual harassment of students in public transport” in which teams of 5 can participate and through their posters they can show what is it like to face harassment and eve teasing in the workplace and public transport.

• Anti-Sexual Harassment cell is planning to conduct a self-defence session for all the girl students .The objective of conducting the self-defence session is to make the students aware about the matters that constitute sexual harassment and action that can be taken with regards to the same. It can help to induce confidence in them to fight against sexual harassment.

• A Flash mob or a drama by the member students is planned by the cell which will contain informative videos that showed types of sexual torment that people of different gender and age face. It will help the student to become cautious and protect their friends and themselves from such crimes. It can explain the mental, emotional and physical trauma that a person goes through when he/she is sexually harassed.

• With the help of Psychology department under the guidance of the joint coordinator of Ms. Rajisha we had planned to conduct counselling for the students who had faced any type of sexual threat which will be highly confidential.

We gradually expect all your support for the working of the cell activities.
Thank you