A programme on ‘Awareness Programme on Sexual Harassment” jointly organized by Prevention of Sexual Harassment Committee and Curricular Aspects Cell, Govt. Hanhthial College was held on 23/03/2023 at 1:00 PM at the Auditorium, Government Hnahthial College. The main objective of the Programme was to sensitize the students against sexual harassments, policy/awareness on these issues, preventive measures and the support systems that are available.
Lalchhanhimi, Sub –Inspector, Superintendent of Police, Hnahthial and Lalramdinmawii, District Child Protection Officer, Hnahthial were invited as Resource Persons for the Programme. The seminar was chaired by Mrs Janet Lalremsiami, Associate Professor, Dept. of History, Govt. Hnahthial College.
The seminar commenced with an introductory note by the Chairperson who welcomed the resource persons for their kind acceptance to grace the occasion and highlighted the reasons for such a programme especially for the students.
The resource person Lalchhanhimi, Sub –Inspector of Police, Hnahthial in her speech stated that sexual harassment continues to be a pervasive problem today not only globally or nationwide but even within the District itself wherein many cases have been registered in this connection. She highlighted the various Laws/Acts governing sexual harassment and what it encompasses such as the penalty it entailed and so on. Being in the field, she further shared her experiences that many acts of misconducts in this direction stemmed from ignorance of the law which however cannot be condoned. Students were made aware of the knowledge needed to identify and report inappropriate behavior to the Police as quickly as possible. R. Lalramdinmawii, District Child Protection Officer, Hnahthial explained the definition of Sexual Harassment which could encompass unwelcome sexual behaviour in the form of physical contact, demand for sexual favors, sexually coloured remarks, showing pornography, stalking, bullying , verbal and non- verbal harassments, cybercrimes etc. The various laws initiated by the Government was highlighted such as the key provisions of Prevention of Sexual Harassment Act, 2013 (POSH) and the online protocol for registering such cases.
The Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act as a gender neutral law and the capital punishments contained in it was also an enlightening part of the speech. The physical, mental or emotional effects on the victim on account of sexual harassments and the importance of registering such incidents to the concerned authorities was also pointed out. With the notion that anyone can be a victim of sexual harassment, the speaker stressed on the need to educate the students on what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior and recognize behavior that violates a person's dignity and privacy or personal boundaries. The Programme ended with a vote of thanks from Catherine Lalrodingi Assistant Professor, Dept of English, Govt. Hnahthial College who thanked the resource persons, Principal, students and organizers of the respective Cells and last but not the least, the students from the various semesters without whose participation, the Seminar could not have been a success. With this, the seminar was brought to a close.
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