Jamaica’s Sexual Harassment Act takes impact July 3

JIS Information- Jamaica’s Minister of Tradition, Gender, Leisure, and Sport, Hon. Olivia Grange, says the graduation date of the Sexual Harassment Act is about for Monday, July 3, 2023.

Ms. Grange made the announcement throughout her contribution to the 2023/24 Sectoral Debate within the Home of Representatives on June 13.

The laws addresses issues about sexual harassment which are employment-related, occurring in establishments, or arising within the landlord and tenant relationship.

The Act comprises provisions for coping with sexual harassment within the office, faculties, correctional establishments, locations of security, nursing properties, medical and psychiatric amenities, amongst different locations.

“We proceed to sensitize staff, employers, tenants, landlords and others forward of the implementation of the regulation. On the similar time, we now have been working to place the mechanisms in place to research and adjudicate complaints of sexual harassment. This has included the recruitment of investigators and the appointment of the panel to listen to every case,” Ms. Grange stated.

“We now have already employed 4 sexual harassment investigators. We now have additionally accomplished a number of sensitizations with corporations throughout Jamaica. Along with that, we now have our assist line, which is extensively publicized, and it isn’t only for girls but additionally for males,” she added.

The Minister knowledgeable that in two weeks, she is going to take the membership of the tribunal to Cupboard for approval.

“I exploit this chance to remind each employer and particular person accountable for an establishment of their duty to make sure that the coverage assertion required below the Sexual Harassment Act is ready and delivered to the eye of every employee, consumer, scholar, resident, ward, inmate, affected person or member, because the case might require, inside 12 months of the graduation date,” Ms. Grange stated.

She added that the Bureau of Gender Affairs has been holding sexual harassment sensitization periods with the general public.

The Bureau has additionally been helping organizations to develop or revise the anti-sexual harassment insurance policies, consistent with the regulation.

In current instances, 18 gender focal factors have been added to the community because the Authorities ramps up the mainstreaming of gender in public-sector our bodies.

One main new final result has been the gender certification of the JDF, consistent with the Nationwide Coverage for Gender Equality.