Date: 10th December, 2024
Venue: Auditorium, PIMSR
The event took place on 10th December, 2024 at Pillai Institute of Management Studies, 165 Students, 6 faculty members and 2 administrative staff were the attendees. The primary objective of the session was to inform participants about their rights under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, commonly referred to as the POSH Act.
Program aimed to raise awareness about sexual harassment laws in educational and workplace settings. Organized by the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC), the event featured Adv. Meenakshi Gopalakrishnan as the guest speaker. She discussed key aspects of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, emphasizing the importance of creating safe environments. She covered topics like understanding sexual harassment, the legal framework, reporting mechanisms, and the role of ICCs. The session also focused on empowering attendees with knowledge about their rights and fostering respectful behavior.
Key Topics Discussed
Understanding Sexual Harassment: Adv. Meenakshi defined sexual harassment and provided examples to illustrate various forms it can take, including verbal, non-verbal, and physical harassment. She stressed that harassment can occur in many contexts, not just within traditional workplaces but also in academic settings. Speaker also shared few real life cases as an example to illustrate various forms of Sexual Harassment happening around us.
Legal Framework: The speaker detailed the key provisions of the POSH Act, explaining how it aims to protect women from sexual harassment at work. She discussed the roles and responsibilities of Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) established under the Act to address complaints effectively.
Reporting Mechanisms: Participants were informed about how to report incidents of harassment safely and confidentially. Adv. Meenakshi highlighted the importance of timely reporting and encouraged attendees to utilize available resources such as counseling services offered by the college.
Empowerment through Awareness: A significant portion of the session focused on empowering individuals with knowledge about their rights. Adv. Meenakshi encouraged open discussions about consent, boundaries, and respectful behavior among peers.
Interactive Q&A Session: The event concluded with an interactive question-and-answer segment where attendees could seek clarification on specific concerns and get in depth knowledge about POSH.
The event concluded with an interactive Q&A, providing a platform for deeper understanding. Overall, the session contributed to enhancing awareness and promoting a safer academic and professional environment.
