Topic: Violence Against Women
Country: South Africa
Delegate Name: Kara Yeomans
School: Forest Hills Northern High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All South Africa position papers GLIMUN 2018 committees
Sexual harassment is an ongoing problem within our society, and unfortunately, the majority of those who suffer from it are women; it has been a consistently dismissed issue due to the fact that perpetrators have been able to claim that they “did not know they were harassing” these women, and be released with little to no consequences. Although sexual harassment is not always physically harmful, it demonstrates that even in these modern times, some men feel entitled to treat their female coworkers as objects to be used rather than people. The Republic of South Africa condemns such actions against female employees as a gross dismissal of their worth, not only as professionals, but also as individuals. Sexual harassment is only one aspect of discrimination against women, and yet, there is much to be desired in how it is addressed.
The Code of Good Practice on the Handling of Sexual Harassment Cases in the Workplace defines sexual harassment clearly states, “unwanted conduct of a sexual nature that violates the rights of an employee and constitutes a barrier to equity in the workplace”. In saying this, our country believes that it is every citizens right to be treated properly in a workplace setting without fear of being accosted. Sexual harassment itself is prohibited under the Protection from Harassment Act No. 17 of the Employment Equality Act of 1998. This act also holds employers liable for unlawful conduct against their employee if they failed to deal with the situation appropriately in an attempt to ensure no blind eye go unaccounted.
Although these policies have been implemented, South Africa acknowledges a great deal more needs to be done to improve the situation. According to the South African Statistics, women composed 44% of the workforce in 2017, yet only around 30% of Supreme Court judges, advocates, ambassadors, and heads of state-owned enterprises are women. When examining the top 40 JSE listed companies, only one was reported to have a female CEO. It is clear that although women play a key role in the workforce, it is the men who hold the power. Such an imbalance is concerning for the female citizens of our country who must endure sexual harassment in silence in fear of losing their job, security, and self-worth.
Loopholes that claim the perpetrator was “unknowing” in their harassment must be closed, and unknowing or not, one thing is clear: sexual harassment must not be tolerated in any form. Women should be supported and valued for their quality of work and character, not merely their bodies. Whether it’s from education or direct positive examples, we must work towards a change in the way men perceive women, for they are just as important in solving the issue as their female counterparts.
The Republic of South Africa looks forward to collaborating with their fellow delegates in order to discuss various approaches to eliminate sexual harassment.
