IMPACT Justice Workshop To Discuss IMPACT Justice Update To CARICOM Sexual Harassmentent Bill

The Canadian Government-funded project Improved Access to Justice in the Caribbean (IMPACT Justice) is hosting a workshop to discuss its update of the CARICOM Model Sexual Harassment Bill. The CARICOM Bill was drafted in 1996. IMPACT Justice, which is a regional justice sector reform project, is being implemented from within the Caribbean Law Institute Centre, UWI, Cave Hill Campus.

The objectives of the workshop, which is being held on November 25^th and 26^th at the Coco Palm Hotel, Gros Islet, St. Lucia, are to:

1. introduce the Draft Model Sexual Harassment Bill to the Governments of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Member States;
2. solicit feedback from Government representatives on the Draft Model Sexual Harassment Bill to inform amendments;
3. increase the awareness of Government representatives of issues related to sexual harassment in the various areas where persons communicate with one another; and
4. agree on a way forward for finalization of the Draft Model Sexual Harassment Bill, with a view of its adoption by the CARICOM and OECS Member States.

Prof. Velma Newton, IMPACT Justice Regional Project Director, stated, “Gender is a major cross-cutting theme of IMPACT Justice and one of our goals is to strengthen gender-responsive legislation in the region. The IMPACT Justice update to the CARICOM Model Sexual Harassment Bill addresses deficiencies in current sexual harassment legislation and it is hoped that at the end of the meeting we will be one step closer to having this legislation on the Statute Book.”