The High Court on Thursday directed the government and authorities of different ministries and organisations concerned to submit report on what steps they have taken to prevent sexual harassment against women.

The court directed to submit the report through the Supreme Court registrar.

The HC issued the direction upon the secretaries to the Cabinet Division, Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Ministry of Communications, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Information and the representatives of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), the chairman of Bangladesh Bar Council, inspector general (IG) of police and Director General of Bangladesh Television (BTV).

The HC bench of justices Syed Mahmud Hossain and ATM Fazle Kabir passed the order upon a contempt-of-court petition filed by Bangladesh National Woman Lawyers’ Association (BNWLA) on March 8 this year since the authorities concerned had not implemented the HC verdict delivered in May last year to prevent sexual harassment against women.

On May 14 last year, the HC issued a set of guidelines defining sexual misdemeanours to prevent any kind of physical, mental or sexual harassment of women, girls and children at their workplaces, educational institutions and other public places including roads across the country.

It directed the government to make a law on the basis of the guidelines, and ruled that the guidelines will be treated as a law until the law is made.

Source: http://www.thedailystar.net

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