Implementation:

Sexual harassment is any unwanted, non-consensual behaviour that causes anguish and
discomfort for the victim. It can be physical, psychological, verbal, or take place in a sexual
setting.

According to data provided by the National Commission for Children and Madadgaar
National Helpline 1098, Pakistan is one of the nations where roughly 70% of women and
girls have experienced partner violence and roughly 93% of women have experienced various
types of sexual misconduct in public settings. According to the same helpline, over 9,000
women and children have asked for protection by either contacting the helpline via phone or
visiting in person.

According to these figures, a startling number of women and kids experience harassment.
The stated results do have one pretty encouraging aspect, though, in that many women and
children did come forward. This is a big step toward igniting the societal change that is sorely
required, especially in nations like Pakistan.

So what can Pakistanis do if they experience sexual harassment themselves or come into
contact with someone who has? The Pakistan Penal Code (1860) contains regulations that
allow for the accused to be found guilty and given a sentence of imprisonment, a hefty fine,
or even the death penalty. Such rules are very important for both men and women because
they enable victims to pursue justice against the perpetrators of their crimes.

A person can be sentenced to three years in jail, a fine, or both under Section 509 of the
Pakistan Penal Code (1860) for insulting a woman's modesty, whether by gestures or words.

False charges against another female are punishable by five years in jail and a fine under
section 496C of the Pakistani Penal Code (1860).

According to Section 354A of the Pakistani Penal Code (1860), anybody found guilty of
engaging in indecent or vulgar behaviour, including singing or reciting a song with
derogatory lyrics, faces a three-month jail sentence, a fine, or a combination of the three.

According to Section 354A of the Pakistan Penal Code, anybody who abuses a woman
employs physical force against her or strips her in public is guilty of a crime (1860). The
accused might get a life term in jail or the death penalty.
According to Section 366A of the Pakistani Penal Code (1860), anybody who coerces a
young girl under the age of 18 into engaging in sexual activity with another person faces up
to 10 years in jail or a fine.

The Protection Against Harassment of Women at Workplace Act is one law that might help
women in the workplace (2010). The legislation, which is regarded as one of the Pakistani
law's most recent reforms, defines

“Any unwelcome sexual advance, request for sexual favours or other verbal or written
communication or physical conduct of a sexual nature or sexually demeaning attitudes,
causing interference with work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive
work environment, or the attempt to punish the complainant for refusal to comply with such a
request or is made a condition for employment.”

This act also establishes a system for investigation committees, each of which will have three
members, one of whom must be a woman. Any institution or business that gets a complaint
about harassment from a worker must form this inquiry committee. Section 3 of the
Protection Against Harassment of Women at Workplace Act contains the requirement (2010).
Women also have the option of making complaints directly to the Ombudsperson, as stated in
section 8 of the Act.

The same statute's Section 4 proposes several other punishments for the offender.
Among these sanctions include censorship, a recompense from the offender in the form
of a payment or fine, suspension, dismissal, early retirement from the organisation, or
promotion to a lesser position.

Anyone who uses any information to injure another person or their reputation is
responsible and subject to punishment under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act
(2016), which carries a three-year prison sentence, a fine, or both.

According to the same Act, a person who uploads information to harm another person's
reputation, particularly the reputation of a female, to blackmail or incite hatred toward the
victim, faces a five-year prison sentence, a fine of five million rupees, or both.

The Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act holds those responsible for cyber-stalking
accountable for harassing or stalking another person online when they are aware that they
have neither their consent nor their comfort (2016). Similar to this, a person may get a
sentence of three years in jail, a significant fine, or both for taking the victim's photos or
videos and posting them online to do the victim damage.
These new rules appear to be Pakistan's first step toward becoming a more developed
country. However, despite the presence of such laws, many women and men are still
unwilling to speak out for themselves, mostly because they are unaware of their rights or are
afraid of social shame, which is why the problem of harassment is not being addressed.