SEXUAL HARASSMENT OF WOMEN AT WORKPLACE: CHALLENGES, CAUSES AND LEGAL REMEDIES

Sexual harassment of women at the workplace has emerged as one of the most significant challenges to gender equality, human dignity, and labour rights in contemporary society. Although constitutional guarantees and statutory protections seek to ensure equality and non-discrimination, women continue to encounter various forms of sexual harassment across organized and unorganized sectors. Such harassment adversely affects women's physical and psychological well-being, employment opportunities, career advancement, and participation in the workforce. The recognition of sexual harassment as a violation of fundamental human rights has transformed the legal landscape both internationally and domestically. International instruments such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) Violence and Harassment Convention, 2019 (Convention No. 190) have significantly influenced national legal systems, including India's legislative response through the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013.

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