Submission ID 118545
| Issue/Objective | The "Standing Together Against Harassment" (SATH) project in Pakistan is to improve the implementation of the "The Protection Against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act (PHWA)" in the institutions and Labour Rights Women Workers' Organizations (LRWWOs) in Pakistan. It aims to increase workplace safety, facilitate complaint mechanisms, and enhance institutional linkages of ombudspersons with legal aid providers whilst promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). |
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| Methodology/Approach | A mixed-methods evaluation research approach guided by Empowerment Evaluation and the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) is applied. Baseline data is collected from 390 participants (1600 total to be enrolled) using the Workplace Integrated Safety and Health (WISH) and the Respectful Workplace Surveys. Qualitative methods included In-Depth Interviews (IDIs), Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), Key-Informant Interviews (KIIs), and case studies, which are a work in progress and will conclude in June 2025. The purpose of the interviews is to assess the knowledge and practices of workers/employees regarding workplace harassment and its act (PHWA), document review of institutional policies, increase reporting of sexual harassment, and ensuring DEI in the workplace among workers/employees and organizations, eventually leading to safer workplaces for women. Endline assessment will be conducted after a year of intervention, which is training and awareness sessions on the implementation and usage of law and policies around workplace sexual harassment. |
| Results | Baseline data collection will be completed by June 2025. Findings from 390 enrolled participants revealed that over 50% believed anti-harassment policies were poorly enforced. Respect deficit was most prevalent among LRWWO workers (24.2%), while higher respect scores were reported among trainers and management (38.3%). Only 23.5% of respondents believed leaders fully supported safe, inclusive workplaces, and many expressed concerns over leadership accountability and inconsistent policy implementation. |
| Discussion/Conclusion | Despite legal protections, systemic gaps in law enforcement and leadership commitment persist. The findings highlight the need to improve workplace culture, power dynamics and accountability structures. Strengthening the implementation of PHWA will contribute to the ongoing efforts to combat workplace sexual harassment across all sectors. Learnings from this project will inform the development and execution of organizational safeguarding policies and gender-equitable work environments. |
| Presenters and affiliations | Maria Ather Aga Khan University Rozina Karmaliani Aga Khan University Tazeen Ali Aga Khan University |
