UGC reiterates regulations on prevention of sexual harassment, asks to hold awareness programme

NEW DELHI: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has reiterated the regulations to prevent sexual harassment of women employees and students in higher educational institutions (HEIs).

As per the UGC Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal of sexual harassment of women employees and students in higher educational institutions Regulations, 2015, educational institutes has been instructed to launch grievance redressal mechanism, process for making complaint and conducting inquiry, interim redressal, punishment and compensation, and consequences of non-compliance.

The UGC has once again issued advisories to constitute an lnternal Complaints Committee (lCC) and a women's cell in the institutions to address the gender-based violence and conduct gender sensitization programmes.

The names and contact details of the ICC members should be displayed on the notice. Universities should also display banners and posters to create awareness.

The statutory body has also asked the universities to organise awareness programmes on the sexual harassment of women at workplace in the week starting from December 9 to December 15, 2023, to sensitize students and employees. The details of the programmes should be submitted to the UGC email at ugc.iccgs@gmail.com.

Further, universities will have to upload "Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013" and details regarding the constitution of the lnternal Complaints Committee, along with contact information of its members such as name. phone number, address, etc on the official portal, portal, saksham.ugc.ac.in.