Internal Complaints Committee

शिक्षा

प्रत्येक व्यक्ति को महिलाओं के शोषण के विरुद्ध आवाज़ उठानी होगी: प्रो.सीमा हकीम

ByMohammad Rafiq

November 26, 2021

अलीगढ़, 26 नवंबरः महिलाओं के खिलाफ हिंसा के उन्मूलन के लिए अंतरराष्ट्रीय दिवस’ के अवसर पर ’आन्तरिक परिवाद समिति’ की ओर से ’महिलाओं के बढ़ते शोषण और उसके उन्मूलन’ विषय पर आई.सी.सी. भवन में एक परिचर्चा का आयोजन किया गया। इस परिचर्चा में आई.सी.सी. की पीठासीन अधिकारी प्रोफेसर सीमा हकीम, समिति के अन्य सदस्य, प्रोफेसर संगीता सिंघल, डा फज़ीला शाहनवाज़, डा सुबूही अफज़ल, अदीला सुल्ताना हिंदी विभाग, डा नीलोफ़र उस्मानी, समाज कार्य विभाग, डा मोहम्मद उज़ैर, आई.सी.सी. और अन्य विभाग के कर्मचारी एवं शोधार्थी उपस्थित थे।

प्रसूति एवं स्त्री रोग विभाग, जेएन मेडिकल कालिज की वरिष्ठ प्रोफेसर एवं आई.सी.सी. की पीठासीन अधिकारी प्रोफेसर सीमा हकीम ने वक्ताओं एवं श्रोतागणों का स्वागत करते हुए महिलाओं की घरेलू हिंसा और उसके उन्मूलन के लिए किये जाने वाले प्रयासों पर प्रकाश डाला। उन्होनें कहा कि प्रत्येक व्यक्ति को महिलाओं के शोषण के विरुद्ध आवाज़ उठानी चाहिए। यह कार्य सबसे पहले हमें अपने परिवार से प्रारंभ करना होगा। यदि एक व्यक्ति अन्य पांच व्यक्तियों को इसके लिए जागरुक करेगा तो निश्चित रूप से एक दिन पूरा समाज परिवर्तित हो जायेगा। आई.सी.सी. की सदस्य एवं शरीर विज्ञान विभाग की प्रोफेसर संगीता सिंघल ने कहा कि माता-पिता को अपने लड़की-लड़कों का पालन-पोषण एक समान करना चाहिए। उन्होंने कहा कि बाल्यावस्था से ही लड़की को पराया धन कहकर उसको लड़कों से कमतर नहीं समझना चाहिए। बाल्यावस्था का यही लालन-पोषण भविष्य में लिंग असमानता का भाव विकसित करता है।

हिंदी विभाग की अस्सिटेंट प्रोफेसर डा0 नीलोफ़र उस्मानी ने ’महिलाओं के खिलाफ हिंसा के उन्मूलन के लिए अंतरराष्ट्रीय दिवस’ के उद्देश्य को बताते हुए इन पंक्तियों के माध्यम से अपने विचार प्रस्तुत किये। उन्होंने कहा कि महिलाओं पर होने वाले अत्याचार और हिंसा को रोकना है। तभी परिवार, समाज और देश का विकास होना है।उन्होंने कहा कि अब महिलाओं को इस समाज से निर्णय लेने की आज़ादी लेनी है, स्वयं ही अपने सामाजिक और कानूनी अधिकारों को पहचानना है। वह कमज़ोर नहीं, लाचार नहीं, है तो बस भेदभाव की शिकार, उसे तो बस अब अपने अधिकारों के लिए लड़कर बराबरी का दर्जा लेना है। यदि उसके शिक्षा, स्वास्थ्य और सुरक्षा की सुविधा सुनिश्चित की जाये, तोे वह दिन दूर नहीं जब उसकी पहचान पिता-पति-पुत्र से न होकर खुद ही के नाम से हो जाये।आई0सी0सी0 की सदस्य एवं इतिहास विभाग की अस्सिटेंट प्रोफेसर डा0 फज़ीला शाहनवाज़ ने कहा कि यह जो दिवस मनाये जाते हैं यह केवल समाचारपत्रों के शीर्षक तक ही सीमित नहीं होने चाहिए बल्कि इनके उद्देश्यों को व्यावहारिक जीवन में लागू करना चाहिए। महिलायें स्वयं अपने पर हो रहे शोषण को नहीं समझ पाती है। वह इसको अपनी नियति समझकर झेलती रहती हैं।आई.सी.सी. की सदस्य एवं सामुदायिक चिकित्सा विभाग की सी0एम0ओ0 डा0 सुबूही ने बताया कि कई स्थानों पर महिलायें ही महिलाओं पर अत्याचार करती हैं। कोविड-19 के कारण महिलाओं की घरेलू हिंसा में बढ़ोत्तरी हुयी है। आई0सी0सी0 की सदस्य एवं जे0एन0एम0सी0एच0 की अदीला सुल्ताना ने कहा कि महिलाओं का केवल शारीरिक शोषण ही नहीं होता है बल्कि मानसिक और भावात्मक शोषण भी होता है। अपने को कमतर समझने के कारण वह अपने पर होने वाले शोषण को स्वीकार करती चली जाती है। इतिहास विभाग के शोधार्थी मुजतबा अहमद ने बताया कि महिलाओं को अपने शोषण के विरुद्ध स्वयं बोलना होगा। उसको साहसी, आत्मनिर्भर होकर ही समानता का अधिकार मिल सकता है। कर्मचारी वर्ग से ताजदार हुसैन ने यू0एन0ओ0 में स्त्री-पुरुष समानता को लेकर चल रहे मुहिम के बारे में बताया।

ICC CONDUCTS AN AWARENESS PROGRAMME

Aligarh, December 10, 2021 | Public Relation Office

Aligarh, December 10: To mark the inception of Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition & Redressal Act, 2013), an awareness program was held on 9^th December, by Internal Complaints Committee (ICC), Aligarh Muslim University.

Addressing the program, Prof Seema Hakim (Presiding Officer ICC) highlighted the conception of the Act following the landmark decision in the case Vishakha & Others Vs State of Rajasthan which eventually resulted in framing guidelines given in the Vishakha case to redress grievances pertaining to workplace sexual harassment and to provide a safe a secure environment to women.

Special guest on the occasion Prof Zaki Anwar Siddiqui (Member In-Charge, Land and Garden), praised the working of ICC and said that it is a pillar of strength to the working women in AMU.

The program was also addressed by ICC members. Prof Sangeeta Singhal (Dept Physiology, JNMC, and Member ICC) educated the audience on “What is sexual harassment” and “How we can define workplace”. She said, “sexual harassment” includes the unwelcome act or behavior whether directly or by implication like the physical contact or advances, a demand or request for sexual favor making sexually colored remarks and showing indecent photos, and any other unwelcome physical, verbal, non-verbal conduct of a sexual nature.

Mr Javed Saeed (Secretary Saifi Education Trust and Member ICC) defined “what is a complaint and what are the complaints that can be entertained in the Internal Complaints Committee”. He discussed what should be the content of the complaint. The complaint which is fake and fraudulent in nature is not entertained in the ICC, he stressed.

Dr Subuhi Afzal (Medical Officer and Member of ICC ) deliberated upon “who is the aggrieved women” to more clarify the point she said the Act recognizes the right of every woman to a safe and secure workplace irrespective of her age of employment/ work status.

Ms Adila Sultana (Section Officer JNMCH and Member ICC) emphasized the legal perspective of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace. She said that the members of ICC are the members of the Enquiry Committee and the whole process of enquiry is to be completed within the stipulated time of 90 days.

When a complaint is received it is mandatory to take action within 7 days of receipt of the complaint and the ICC makes sure to dispose of the case in a time-bound manner, she added.

Ms Adiba Naseem (Student of MBBS, JNMC, and Member ICC) discussed the “Sexual Harassment of women at workplace- the student perspective”. We have to make our society more conscious about the safety of the girls.

Public Relations Office

Aligarh Muslim University

Awareness Programme 9.12.21

Report on

Empower & Educate

Internal Complaints Committee Awareness Initiative

On November 20^th, 2024, Begum Azeezun Nisa Hall, A.M.U organized a session ‘Empower & Educate’ on harassment, legal rights, and the importance of breaking silence in collaboration with the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC), A.M.U.

Here's the corrected version of the paragraph with proper grammar and punctuation:

"The session was hosted by Senior Hall, Amina Irshad, and began with the felicitation of the guest speakers: Prof. Samina Khan from the Department of English, A.M.U, and the Presiding Officer of the ICC; Prof. Romana N. Siddiqui from the Department of Psychology, A.M.U; along with other members of the ICC, including Dr. Shalini Gupta, Ms. Mehvish, and Ms. Divya Verma. The felicitation was conducted by Prof. Asiya Choudhary from the Department of Commerce, A.M.U, Provost of Begum Azeezun Nisa Hall, A.M.U. and a senior member of ICC ".

The event commenced with a Nukkad Natak titled "Bolne se Kya Hoga" which highlighted various forms of physical, mental, and emotional harassment. The performance emphasized the critical need to break the silence surrounding harassment and conveyed a powerful message about raising one’s voice against injustice. 

         Prof. Samina Khan underscored the importance of breaking the silence against any form of harassment, stating that “AMU is committed to zero tolerance towards sexual harassment.” She used a PowerPoint presentation to educate the audience about the process of registering complaints and encouraged active participation in combating harassment.

Additionally, Prof. Samina explained the agenda of the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) which revolves around Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal of harassment and that ICC is not merely a complaint agency but also functions as a counselling center, offering solutions to the challenges faced by victims.  She elaborated that sexual harassment is not limited to physical acts but includes verbal, mental, visual, emotional, and cyber-related offenses, also encompassing discriminatory behaviors that demoralize individuals based on their gender. 

            Prof. Romana N. Siddiqui highlighted the importance of laws protecting women and the role of upbringing in fostering resilience. She emphasized setting boundaries and not compromising on non-negotiable values. She specified laws exist to protect individuals, but their effectiveness depends on the courage to speak out. Prof. Romana encouraged everyone to have basic knowledge of their rights and legal frameworks and to become examples of resilience and inspire others, if a situation requires them to.

       Prof. Asiya Choudhary shared insights from her student days, when such laws were absent. She appreciated the role of AMU’s first woman Vice-Chancellor in stressing the implementation of these laws. She advised participants to be aware of their rights, assertive in their opinions, and genuine in their approach while cautioning against the misuse of laws or making hasty decisions. 

An interactive Q&A session was led after the guest speakers' addresses which encouraged open dialogue, addressing various queries from the audience and reinforcing the importance of awareness and action. 

The event came to its conclusion with the certification distribution to the organizing committee, a group photo session, and the screening of the thought-provoking movie, ‘Thappad’, which further emphasized the event’s theme. 

REPORT

A National Workshop on Gender Sensitization Cells and Internal Complaints Committees of Universities in India was held at the National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA), New Delhi, from 9th to 13th December 2024. This unique initiative aimed to enhance awareness and address issues of gender parity and safety in Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs).

Participants included coordinators, Presiding Officers, and members of Gender Sensitization Cells (GSCs) and Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) from universities across India. These delegates were nominated by their respective Vice Chancellors to engage in this critical dialogue and share best practices.

Prof. Samina Khan, Presiding Officer, ICC, Aligarh Muslim University, was nominated by the AMU Vice Chancellor to represent the university at this event. During her address, she emphasized that ensuring women’s safety in HEIs is both a legal obligation and a moral imperative. Prof. Khan highlighted challenges in implementing frameworks such as the UGC (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal of Sexual Harassment of Women Employees and Students in HEIs) Regulations, 2015, and proposed actionable solutions to strengthen institutional mechanisms.

In her institutional and case studies presentation, Prof. Khan showcased AMU’s commitment to gender equity, detailing its policies, infrastructure, and provisions designed to create a safe and inclusive academic environment. She reiterated the university’s zero-tolerance policy against sexual harassment and its ongoing efforts to promote gender inclusivity in admissions, appointments, and campus facilities.

The workshop saw participation from institutions across India, including Punjab, Kerala, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Pondicherry, and the North-East. The sessions addressed a variety of themes, such as gender mainstreaming, legal empowerment, administrative mechanisms, and inclusion of marginalized identities.

This initiative, supported by leading experts and policymakers, was a significant step toward fostering gender-sensitive campuses and enhancing the functioning of GSCs and ICCs across India. Prof. Khan’s participation highlighted AMU’s proactive role in shaping conversations on gender equity and institutional responsibility.