THE Law and Justice Sector launched its brochures and posters informing its officers and respective departments of the ongoing effort to effectively address sexual harassment in the workplace following a workshop at Holiday Inn recently.
The group of representatives from the various Law and Justice Sector (LJS) agencies under their banner Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion Community of Practice (LJS GEDSI COP) put together the material that were disseminated during the launch.
Attorney-General and Secretary for Justice Dr. Eric Kwa, a pillar of the movement in ending workplace sexual harassment, encouraged the work that has been put into creating avenues to address this issue, such as the establishment of GEDSI COP. He congratulated the members for their perseverance in the fight against, what he deemed was the ‘evil’ in any safe and functional workplace.
What was initially GESI COP is now GEDSI COP, with the inclusion of LJS officers with disability, as announced at the launch by Constitutional Law & Reform Commission (CLRC) Deputy Secretary Ms. Dorothy Mimiko-Kesenga.
“We have now incorporated persons with disability, not only in documentation such as policies but also in practical work.”
This inclusion has given LJS GEDSI COP a fresh perspective and some valuable insight to challenges people of disability face beyond the scope of sexual harassment, such as discrimination, marginalization and stigmatization within a workplace, Kesenga added.
The posters and brochures launched provided an informative outlet to educate and facilitate awareness through printed material that was easily accessible. The information provided had the definition for sexual harassment, highlighted the acts that constituted the offence as well as the consequences of committing those acts, and provided contacts and help services for the victims.
Australian High Commission Minister Counsellor (Legal) Michael McKenzie, representing the Australian Government, praised the progress that has been made in the space of addressing sexual harassment specifically within the LJS.
“Workplace sexual harassment is a very serious issue in PNG, in Australia and across the world in general. This issue has really come to prominence in recent years, through amongst other things the #MeToo movement, and I think there is a widespread recognition that all countries should be doing more to address sexual harassment in the workplace.”
Dr. Kwa made mention that, without taking the emphasis away from the context of sexual harassment, the act itself in its many faces is a form of violence. He said that when addressing violence in any form, we must address it where we cannot reach and that was at home.
“The key is their families, how can we support the victim beyond the workplace? So that he or she can go home happy and come to work happy. That is the challenge that we have.”
In the ongoing plough to do so, this launch has enabled the members of LJS GEDSI COP to strengthen their efforts through the distribution of these materials within the various LJS agencies and continue their advocacy to end workplace sexual harassment.
