Last Updated on October 28, 2020, 6:37 AM AST by Anthony Morris
The Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians network launched its new Anti-Harassment Policy Guidelines to support Parliaments across the Commonwealth in the effort to both addresses and remove all traces and forms of harassment across parliamentary workplaces.
The CWP is a network of the CPA, and the guidelines would be distributed to the CPA’s membership of around 180 Commonwealth Legislatures and Parliaments.
The definition of harassment as per the Anti-Harassment Policy Guidelines is, “unwanted behaviour directed at an individual with the intent or purpose of disrespecting, humiliating, hurting, intimidation or offending them.”
The guidelines have been designed to support all Parliaments regardless of their experiences to uphold and endorse a zero-tolerance approach to harassment, which would include, but not limited to, a wide range of unwanted sexual, physical, discriminatory and psychological actions or behaviours.
Drawing from a wide range of anti-harassment procedures and policies from Parliaments in the Commonwealth, these guidelines provide a detailed approach which offers case studies and insights on what appropriate methods should be included while developing updating and updating their respective anti-harassment policies.
Hon. Shandana Gulzar Khan, MNA (Pakistan), the CWP Chairperson, said that at the 6th Triennial CWP Conference, which was organised in the margins of the 64th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Uganda 2019, the issue of harassment and bullying at the workplace was presented as an important issue which needs to be tackled across the Commonwealth.
The consequences of this unacceptable behaviour are devastating and far-reaching.
As both a visible and representative institution, all Parliaments should set an exemplary standard and show leadership for all by taking a proactive role in having policies in place.
The CWP Chairperson added that both the CWP and the CPA network would continue to work with all 180 Legislatures and Parliaments represented in the membership of CPA to combat harassment in all its form.
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
