PREVENTION FOR SEXUAL HARASSMENT CELL

As per the guidelines of UGC, an Anti-Sexual Harassment Cell has been established by Divekar College of Commerce to provide a healthy and congenial atmosphere for the staff and students of the College.
The cell has well-developed guidelines and norms for a policy to uphold zero tolerance towards sexual harassment. The college has entrusted the task of developing principles and procedures for combating sexual harassment to this cell. Cell promotes measures aimed at achieving gender equality, removal of gender bias or discrimination, sexual harassment, and other acts of gender-based violence by organising awareness programmes and campaigns for the benefit of all members of the College.

Objectives of the Policy:

1. To fulfill the directive of the Supreme Court, as per UGC directives and the Bangalore University in respect of implementing a policy against sexual harassment in the institution.
2. To evolve a mechanism for the prevention and redressal of sexual harassment cases and other acts of gender-based violence in the institution.
3. To ensure the implementation of the policy in letter and spirit through proper reporting of the complaints and their follow-up procedures.
4. To provide an environment free of gender-based discrimination.
5. To ensure equal access to all facilities and participation in activities of the college
6. To create a secure physical and social environment which will deter acts of sexual harassment
7. To promote a social and psychological environment that will raise awareness about sexual harassment in its various forms.

The Definition of Sexual Harassment
According to THE SEXUAL HARASSMENT OF WOMEN AT THE WORKPLACE (PREVENTION, PROHIBITION AND REDRESSAL) ACT 2013, sexual harassment includes any one or more of the following unwelcome acts or behavior (whether directly or by implication) namely:

1. Physical contact and advances; or
2. A demand or request for sexual favors; or
3. Making sexually colored remarks; or
4. Showing pornography; or
5. Any other unwelcome physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct of sexual nature.

Any act falling under the purview of following cases will be considered as an incident of sexual harassment:

1. a) Unwelcome sexual advances, verbal, non-verbal and/or physical conduct such as loaded comments, remarks or jokes, letters, phone calls or e-mails, gestures, exhibition of pornography, lurid stares, physical contact, stalking, sounds or display of a derogatory nature.
2. b) Interfering with her work or creating an intimidating, offensive, or hostile environment for her
3. c) When a person uses the body or any part of it or any object as an extension of the body with a sexual purpose in relation to another person without the latter’s consent or against that person’s will, such conduct will amount to sexual assault.
4. d) When deprecatory comments, conduct or any such behavior is based on the gender identity/sexual orientation of the person and/or when the premises or any public 5 forum of the institute is used to denigrate/discriminate against person(s), or create a hostile environment on the basis of a person’s gender identity/sexual orientation.
5. e) When a person shows any humiliating treatment to woman that is likely to affect her health and safety.