Provincial Ombudsperson briefs the students about protection laws

Lahore: Provincial Ombudswoman Farkhanda Waseem Afzal has said that women should have complete awareness about the laws regarding protection of their rights so as to ensure their effective implementationhe was addressing a seminar at Lahore College for Women University, today.

The seminar was arranged by Social Work Department of Lahore College with the collaboration of a social organization WISE.

Provincial Ombudsperson said that development of women is essential for progress of the country. She also apprised the participants of the seminar of the details of Protection of Women against Harassment Act 2010 which provides protection to women at their workplace. She said that when a complaint is received under this Act, Provincial Ombudsperson gives a decision after giving a hearing to both the parties.

Farkhanda Waseem Afzal said that there were several complaints of harassment to women at their workplace and this office has been set up to deal with the matter.  She further said that domestic violence does not come under this category and this Act pertains to harassment of women at government, semi government and registered private institutions.

She said that awareness programmes are being evolved at district level so that women should know about their rights and the laws ensuring their protection. She said that social media, print media and electronic media will also be used for this purpose. Farkhanda Waseem Afzal further said that the institution of Ombudswoman will be strengthened and its regional offices will also be set up so that problems of women of other cities could be resolved at the local level.

Later, students put different questions about harassment laws to which Ombudswoman gave detailed answers. She also gave away certificates on this occasion.