Ministry of gender unveils technical working group to end sexual harassment and gender-based violence at work

The minister of gender, labor and social development, Betty Amongi, has urged the technical working group (TWG) on ending violence and sexual harassment in the world of work to engage cultural and religious institutions in the fight against sexual harassment and gender-based violence.

The minister who officiated at the inauguration ceremony of the Technical Working Group noted that in many areas where the ministry has engaged these institutions, they have made aid ways, citing child marriage issues as an example.

The major role of the group is to provide oversight and strategic technical advice to the ministry, on how to end sexual harassment and gender-based violence at work.

The minister asked the team to involve cultural and religious institutions in their works, since these have norms and beliefs that may constrain the fight against the vice.

“You now find most cultural institutions are changing even their cultural norms, and giving instructions to clan leaders that in case they don’t do something they will be taken to the courts of law. So, while you engage the machinery of government like police, you need to also involve cultural leaders,” she noted.

Amongi advised that as the technical group is sensitizing females who are at times victims, they should also focus on males who are their perpetrators.

She said on that note its high time that all work places do possess sexual harassment measures, and better ways how victims can report privately.

“Two weeks ago, I presented to parliament an amendment in the employment act, and in that amendment, it will be compulsory for all workplaces to have sexual harassment measures. This will also include placing in an open place that sexual harassment is not allowed and give a private mechanism of reporting,” she added.

Aggrey David Kibenge the permanent secretary ministry of gender, highlighted that one of the key priority tasks of the technical group is to review sexual harassment and gender violence at the world of work.

He said the group will also develop a national program and awareness plan on ending sexual harassment and violence in the world of work.

Meanwhile Joyce Katende a board member at FIDA Uganda, stressed on the negative impact of sexual harassment at the world of work, noting that vice goes down to violating other human rights of the women at work, and has reached at the level of social media platforms.

Statistics from the sexual violence research initiative indicate that about 3 in five women which is 58%, have experienced some form of sexual harassment by their employers at work.