Kingston, September 26 – The Honourable Olivia Grange, Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, today announced that “the Prevention of Sexual Harassment draft Bill, with all the revisions recommended by Cabinet, is now ready to be signed off on”. 

“The Bill now reflects recommendations that came from Cabinet regarding the establishment of a Sexual Harassment Tribunal to hear all sexual harassment matters and the designation of field officers from the Bureau of Gender Affairs as authorised officers,” the Minister said.

She described the amendments to the draft Bill as “major achievements”.

Including in the draft are new proposals for hearing sexual harassment complaints. According to the Minister, the new proposals include a mechanism for complaints to be dealt with by the Bureau of Gender Affairs.

Minister Grange was speaking at a WMW Jamaica Forum, held under the theme, ‘The impact of Media Reporting on Violence against Women in the Caribbean’ at CARIMAC Annex 11, University of the West Indies, Mona on Wednesday.

 The Prevention of Sexual Harassment Bill seeks to protect women and men from unwanted sexual advances, requests for sexual favours, and crude sexual behaviours that affect the quality of life by creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment.

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