High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh (Sexual Harassment Probe Committee) in association with J&K Judicial Academy (J&K JA) and J&K Legal Services Authority (J&K LSA) today organized one day workshop on ‘Gender Sensitization – Breaking Barriers & Addressing Issues’ at Judicial Academy Complex, Jammu.The workshop was held under the supervision of Justice Pankaj Mithal, Chief Justice, High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, (Patron-in-Chief, J&K Judicial Academy), guidance of Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur, Chairman, other Judges of Governing Committee of Jammu & Kashmir Judicial Academy and the directions of Justice Sindhu Sharma, Judge, High Court of J&K and Ladakh, Chairperson, Sexual Harassment Probe Committee for the members of Gender Sensitization Internal Complaints Committee (GSICC) and Gender Sensitization Local Complaints Committee (GSLCC) of districts of Jammu province and Leh district. Judge, High Court of J&K and Ladakh, Justice Sindhu Sharma, inaugurated the workshop. The programme, which was attended by the participants in person as well as through virtual mode, was aimed at to generate awareness on gender related issues and raising sensitization on provisions of Sexual Harassment of Woman at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2018.Sanjay Parihar, Director, J&K Judicial Academy, M K Sharma, Member Secretary, J&K Legal Services Authority and Dr. Arti Bakshi, Professor and Head, Department of Psychology, Jammu University were the resource persons in the workshop.
In her inaugural address, Justice Sindhu Sharma highlighted the importance of sensitization on gender related issues for both men and women. She emphasized the need for existence and maintenance of a conducive work environment bereft of any sexually explicit behaviour against women within the society, which is a right intrinsic to them.In the technical sessions, resource person educated the participants on various aspects of gender sensitization including social construction of gender and gender roles. She apprised the participants on issues related to gender including gender discrimination, stereotypes, prejudices and gender equality. She emphasized the need for a positive and equality oriented approach while engaging in interactions within the society.Sanjay Parihar, in his discourse during the technical session, explained the provisions of Sexual Harassment of Woman at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2018 with special reference to constitution of various committees, the process of inquiries into complaints of sexual harassment within the institutions and the penalty provided under the Act. He explained that the legislative provisions of the Act aim to provide protection against sexual harassment of women at workplace and to ensure that the right to work with dignity of women is ensured in letter and spirit.M K Sharma deliberated during the technical session that the sexual harassment of women at workplace is violation of fundamental rights of women enshrined in the constitution. He discussed the provisions of the Act, the rules and the regulations their under specifically those dealing with constitution of Complaints Committees, complaints of Sexual Harassment, enquires and duties of employer. He also highlighted the importance of awareness along with capacity building exercises and skill building programmes for raising sensitization on the subject.Later, an interactive session was held during which the participants deliberated and discussed the various aspects of the subject topic and raised queries which were satisfactorily settled by the resource person.