Men who harm women are “the worst cowards”: MP tells Parliament

Employment Minister Agni Deo Singh has condemned men who commit violence against women, calling them “the worst cowards.”

Mr Singh mentioned this in Parliament yesterday while standing in solidarity with the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign.

The 16 Days of Activism is an international campaign running from November 25 to December 10 each year to raise awareness and call for action to end violence against women and girls.

Mr Singh said Government is strengthening labour laws to tackle sexual harassment in workplaces.

“We are strengthening the laws to make sure, the labour laws, to make sure that sexual harassment at workplaces is minimised or eradicated,” he said.

“These laws are going to be effective once our ERA has been passed.”

ERA refers to the Employment Relations Act, which is currently undergoing nationwide consultations before being tabled in Parliament.

Mr Singh said clear policies and guidelines already exist at workplaces to ensure workplace harassment and sexual harassment are prevented.

He urged victims to come forward and report such incidents.

“I urge all those women and girls who are in any way terrorised or victims of such horrendous acts to report to the relevant authorities and do not shy away because it is very, very important that such perpetrators are taken to task,” Mr Singh said.