Sexual harassment law coming

Parliament will soon be asked to examine and pass legislation on sexual harassment, says minister with responsibility for gender affairs Olivia Grange.

The minister, in making her contribution to the Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, said the bill would be drafted after Cabinet approves a recently submitted sexual harassment policy.

"It is not just for women, it addresses the problem that men sometimes face. The sexual harassment policy that has been drafted will pave the way for the legislation on sexual harassment. The policy document is ready and has been sent to Cabinet," the minister told the House.

Grange said a public education campaign would be undertaken to sensitise citizens on sexual harassment.

Widespread harassment

"We have been training several public-sector and private-sector employers in the issues involved. We are ensuring that we are all able to identify sexual harassment, prevent it from happening and assist employers and human resource managers to develop policies and guidelines for their organisations," Grange said.

Jamaica has long been chided by support groups such as Amnesty International for the way it handles sexual harassment. In its 2006 report, Amnesty said, "sexual harassment and assault by strangers, friends, family, acquaintances, and lovers is widespread" in the country.

The Bureau of Women's Affairs has said sexual harassment in private and in public has become a "disturbing problem" in Jamaica.

Meanwhile, Grange said the Government is working overtime to create a gender-neutral society. She said men's issue are being placed on the gender agenda as "gender equality will not be engaged unless men are engaged and are actively participating in nation building".

She said: "We commit ourselves to tear down the wall which prevents women from achieving their potential, and to break the back of male marginalisation," the minister said.