International Federation of Journalists today joined hands with Delhi Union of Journalists, Indian Journalists Union (IJU) and All India Newspaper Employees Federation in calling for a "no-tolerance" stance on sexual violence against and harassment of female media workers.
"This follows a concerning pattern of incidents in India’s media (includes the gang-rape of a photojournalist in Mumbai on 22 August) and heightened public awareness about a rising cases of sexual violence generally across the country", said the organisations.
"It is high time that media organizations take this problem seriously, devise preventive strategies, create redressal mechanisms and foster a non-sexist culture at the workplace. The message must go out loud and clear to all employees, including managers, editors and others in authority, that sexual harassment will not be tolerated," said DUJ.
In its statement, IJU said it was "greatly disappointed with Tehelka's magazine's response which seemed to be more about protecting the editor than helping the female journalist".
IJU said the media “is the vanguard in identifying and highlighting wrongdoing” and should “pursue its own perpetrators with equal zeal” or risk impacting the credibility of the fourth estate.
DUJ has written to Press Council of India, National Human Rights Commission and National Commission for Women calling for the establishment of an internal complaints committee in every media organization in the country within a stipulated timeframe.
The Sexual Harassment at the Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, which was signed into a law in India on 22nd April, is a significant civil remedy that recognises women’s right to a safe work environment free of sexual harassment.
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