The Federal Ombudsperson for Protection against Harassment of Women at the Workplace has fined a man Rs500,000 for targeting a female colleague in an online campaign of gender-based harassment.
Reports quoted an official document as saying that the accused carried out a sustained online campaign by posting messages intended to humiliate the complainant during a workplace rivalry.
As part of the campaign, the accused fabricated a fictitious book title, authorship and publishing details to mock her. The accused also targeted the complainant’s inability to bear children by making references linking her to the transgender community.
Per the details of the fine, the ruling stated, the accused must pay Rs400,000 of the total amount directly to the complainant as compensation for the harm caused to her dignity. The remaining Rs100,000 will be deposited into the national exchequer.
The ombudsperson ruled that while ethnic or linguistic references alone may not constitute workplace harassment, using gender-based and demeaning language against an identifiable colleague constitutes discriminatory conduct, which is prohibited under Section 2(h) of the Protection against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act.
According to the ruling in this regard, using terms associated with transgender identity as insults demeans the targeted individual.
The ombudsperson observed that this practice reinforces stereotypes against a historically marginalised community, adding that such behaviour has no place in a professional workplace.
The also ruling noted that the harassment undermined the complainant’s dignity, confidence and autonomy, creating a hostile working environment.
It also emphasised that discriminatory behaviour directed at women in visible or leadership positions has wider consequences as it discourages overall female participation in leadership and decision-making roles.
