KUCHING, July 21: “More people on the side of the perpetrator than the victim” could be one of the reasons that the majority of sexual harassment victims do not come forward to report these offences.
Minister for Women, Childhood and Community Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah pointed out that this is even more so when the perpetrator is someone of status, with influence and “good” with family.
“The victims can be further victimised, instead of getting sympathy and support.
“This needs to change. The workplace must be a safe environment for all so that focus can be put into work output and outcomes,” she said in a statement today.
Fatimah thus welcomed the passing of the Anti-Sexual Harassment Bill 2021 through the Dewan Rakyat after a decade-long call for actions and advocacy efforts.
With that, she urged for steps to be taken to widely promote and ensure all employees regardless of their sex or gender are familiar with the policy and law that protects them from any forms of discrimination, once it is gazetted.
The advocacy, Fatimah emphasised, must involved the explaination on the definition of sexual harassment, the effects and consequences for victims, reporting procedures, help and support systems for the victims.
“This is because majority of victims of sexual harassment are women, but there are also a percentage of men who are victims as well.
“But now there are adequate laws protecting both men and women against sexual harassment and all individuals must be made aware of it,” she added.
Yesterday (July 20), the Anti-Sexual Harassment Bill 2021, which has four sections, four chapters and 27 clauses, was passed by the Dewan Rakyat.
Federal Minister of Women, Family and Community Development Datuk Seri Rina Harun when winding the bill, said the legislation was an important manifestation and proved the commitment of the government to eradicating discrimination based on gender.
She also said an evaluation committee comprising academics and individuals from the relevant non-government organisations (NGOs) and agencies would be set up to monitor the effectiveness of the law and to issue reports on it. — DayakDaily
