NUMS Policy Against Gender Harassment

The Government of Pakistan passed two laws to curtail sexual harassment in 2010 - the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, with amendments in Section 509 of the Pakistan Penal Code relating to sexual harassment at the workplace and the Protection against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act. The laws entail that the management of the Universities/ organisations are responsible to provide formal awareness to all employees about the existing Acts, the Committee and the procedure of reporting cases, formulate a three-members “Standing Inquiry Committee” with at least one female member, and display the “Code of Conduct” in the organisation. The Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan has also promulgated a policy in this regard, and has ensured strict and mandatory implementation of the policy across the board in all Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) across Pakistan. However, HEC is spearheading the awareness campaign and delivering training to all HEIs' students, faculty and staff. NUMS in the pursuit of complying to the “Protection of Women at Workplace Act 2010’, its ‘Amendment Act 2022’ and the “HEC Policy on Protection Against Sexual Harassment at Higher Education Institutions 2020’, has formulated a formal process of internal complaint mechanism, capacity building of Staff through awareness sessions for all stakeholders; students, faculty and employees, redressal of grievances. A Standing Inquiry Committee has been notified and a Code of Conduct reflecting Zero Tolerance displayed at prominent places in the NUMS Institutions.