April 2025

This paper underscores the importance of developing and implementing internal policies to combat workplace sexual harassment, aligning with international standards that advocate for safe working environments. It argues for a holistic approach to address violence and harassment within a legal framework that explicitly prohibits such conduct. The paper emphasizes the necessity of effective policies, preventive measures, and monitoring mechanisms to ensure robust implementation.

While acknowledging regional efforts to address sexual harassment through legislation, policies, and programmes, the analysis reveals the need to strengthen existing legal frameworks with domestic policies that enhance victim protection. Furthermore, the paper stresses the importance of integrating these policies into internal labour regulations across both public and private sectors, despite their differing legal structures. The paper concludes by proposing a model framework outlining the fundamental components of effective workplace sexual harassment policies.