Sadia Munsib struggles for a harassment committee with her colleague
Sadia Munsib, is a 39-year-old, married social worker and a member of Coalition for Inclusive Pakistan (CIP) Sialkot region working in the Smile Foundation. Smile foundation is a women rights-based organization and working on women empowerment. During CIP monthly meeting, Enhancing Women Access to Market (EWAM)’s coordinator gave a detailed briefing to them on the issue of harassment of women workers at workplaces. Sadia as a working woman is working on the theme of women rights which makes her a direct beneficiary of EWAM project.
She shared that her organization was working for women rights but before notification from social welfare she had no idea about formation of anti-harassment committees within the organization. Her organization had a gender policy and a harassment policy but in written they did not have an official committee at the Smile Foundation.
During CIP monthly meeting, all members were sensitized on working women issues, in parallel they also conducted advocacy meetings with stakeholders. Women Workers’ Alliance (WWA) conducted a meeting with Deputy Director Social Welfare Office and gave brief orientation on the project’s theme. He acknowledged Sudhaar TDEA efforts and it was decided that NGOs working in the district would meet with the Sudhaar team for networking. Social Welfare Department also instructed all working NGOs to format anti-harassment committees in their offices
After formation of the anti-harassment committee, the staff feels more secure because now they have an official platform for complaints. Secondly, inclusion of women in this committee also indicates women empowerment.
She shared earlier that she and her colleagues had no idea about the formation of anti-harassment committee in their office. Before its formation, they had no official platform to register complaints and the victims felt reluctant to share his/her issue but now they have an official platform after EWAM’s intervention and notification from social welfare office.
Sadia Munsib shared, “We have a strong coordination with local stakeholders and working NGOs of Sialkot as per instruction of social welfare office. They are formatting anti-harassment committees at their work places and the WWA members are also visiting their offices to ensure and report to social welfare office.”
Beneficiary of this notification are working women and they will continue to use this platform to protect their rights in future. WWA members also have a strong coordination with Coalition for Inclusive Pakistan (CIP) regional network’s member organization while also working on formation of anti-harassment committees in their offices
