ISSUES AND CHALLENGES OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN WOMEN POLICE: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY OF POLICE IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

The purpose of study is to illustrate sexual harassment as one of the burning issues and challenges which the Women Police often encounter in Pakistan. The Design comprises of sample containing cross-section of influencing persons from society; Additional IGPs involved in policy making; males and females officer cadres; questionnaire as data collection tool and narrative method used for data analysis involving deductive and inductive approaches. The findings of the study are that the Male Police Officers, Women Police Officers and the Psycho-Socio-Culture Mentors are clear in unfolding the truth that sexual harassment is very much there in one way or the other. Research is limited to the Pakistan workforce in Police and has its cognitive implications for the conduct of entire Police personnel. The practical implications are the eradication of gender discrimination, improved strategies for recruiting more women and practicing the gender responsive policing methods, organizing training programs inculcating the values in the Police personnel. The sexual harassment policy should clearly communicate significance about maintaining victim-centered approaches through the training programs. There should be one Senior level woman officers’ unit to deal with issues linked to working environment, harassment, promotion, posting, duties, transfers cases, etc. It is an original work, not derived from anywhere else and indicates values for safeguarding chastity as one of the permanent values in cultural behavior. These values break the patriarchal culture and strengthen machinery for implementation to put Women Police on the defense and to establish Gender Responsive Policing.