The anti-sexual harassment laws are a fight against injustice and discrimination of women at workplaces; this was stressed by the speakers at the launch of AASHA Exhibition in Faisalabad. The speakers included; Khalida Mansoor MNA, Aqsa Khan Director-WORD, Naseem Anthony Executive Secretary-AWAM, Farrukh Shahzad Journalist, Amna Ahsan Coordinator Girls Guide Association, Zaib-un-Nisa Assistant Superintendent Jail, Abdul Qayum General Secretary Labor Qaumi Movement, Sadia Iqbal Psychologist Darul Amaan and Kaneez Ishaq Chairperson Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Women Protection Centre. This event was organized in collaboration with Association of Women for Awareness and Motivation (AWAM) and Women’s Organization for Rights and Development (WORD), and was joined by a large number of civil society representatives. Naseem Anthony said, “AASHA Exhibitions are a strong initiative to raise awareness about the anti-sexual harassment laws, so these laws will definitely empower working women to launch complaints, as before the law it was difficult to raise the issue of sexual harassment.” “If the law is not implemented, it is because of our mindset and attitude that we as members of a society are unable to break that culture of silence, therefore, we need to struggle collectively against sexual harassment, and we must take it as our responsibility to work for the implementation of anti sexual harassment laws,” he added. Aqsa Khan said, “Exhibition is a tool to bring about positive change in society as sexual harassment does not only impacts women at the workplace but the society as well, and through these exhibitions, attempts are being made to curb reactions and perceptions that put the blame on women for being the cause of sexual harassment or provoking it.” “The beauty of the law is that it has inbuilt mechanism of implementation that are workable, the recent case of sexual harassment in Quaid-i-Azam University is an example where the competent authority dismissed two harassers who had been harassing students in the University, the case was investigated and the recommendations of Inquiry Committee were implemented,” she added. Farrukh Shahzad said, “It is very painful and sensitive for women that they face sexual harassment from their homes, offices, factories, markets etc. Working women are usually targeted when working in subordinate positions, the result is that female victims of sexual harassment remain in a constant dilemma either to quit their jobs or to compromise and continue working in a non-conducive environment.” Sexual harassment has adverse affects for companies and organizations, it entails loss of revenue, loss of valued employees and has a negative impact on the organizations’ repute. He quoted the famous case of sexual harassment against Dominique Strauss Kahn, the Head of IMF who was charged by a hotel maid in Timesquare New York saying that is a display of courage by the maid who refused to accept the violation of her dignity, and launched a complaint against the harasser. Amna Ehsan said, “We need to empower our girls to stand up for their rights and counter sexual harassment strongly. We do not need to lecture them on the social and traditional norms that reinforce women’s submissive positions in society. Parents and teachers must strengthen girls to speak out on any violation committed against them and should not advise them to remain silent in the face of any repercussions.” Khalida Mansoor said, “Women have always been victims of social and economic issues in the name of tradition and feudal system that marginalizes them. Sexual harassment as an issue needs to be highlighted and role of media is imperative in order to bring positive change in the society.” She stated that the law was passed through the unanimous support of women parliamentarians who realized sexual harassment as an issue that needs to be dealt through legislation. We all have a role to play in the implementation of the law and to protect the dignity of working women by changing the attitude and mindset towards women. Later, she inaugurated the AASHA Exhibition and appreciated the displays including posters, booklets, brochures and banners etc. spotlighting the issue of sexual harassment from different aspects.