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This year during the 16 days, Swayam has focused on raising consciousness about “Sexual Harassment against Women at Workplace”. The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 completes 10 years in December 2023. During the last 10 years, there has been limited implementation around the Act and women are still in the dark about the existence of this Act and ways to access justice.

Art is an important language we use to engage with the public and provoke discussions. Over the past 5 years, Swayam have used Art as a means of communicating a social message. Art helps us reach the public in a meaningful, impactful and non-threatening manner.

This year, Swayam in collaboration with Barasat Government College has created a wall mural on ‘Prevention of Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace’, and related law to spread the awareness on the said subject. Swayam believes that young people can contribute largely to reducing violence against women and girls by sensitizing their peers and influencing their immediate surroundings. Their energies and enthusiasm can be channelized into strong actions towards challenging the patriarchal mind-set prevailed in the society.

Swayam through this partnership with Barasat Government College, and their Internal Committee, wants to create awareness among the students and employees of the college regarding the harmful impact of gender discrimination and sexual harassment at the workplace in particular and the society at large. It wants to prevent all forms of gender based harassment within the college campus and provide a safe and inclusive space for the students and employees.

This wall art will become a semi-permanent feature of the college for a long period of time, helping to generate awareness of the students and the general public in Barasat area. This wall has been being painted with the ideas and experiences shared by women beneficiaries of Swayam and the students of Barasat Government College.

The wall mural was inaugurated on 5th December at Barasat Government College at 2:00 p.m followed by a short program of addressing the audience on the significance and objectives of the wall mural on the topic of ‘Prevention of Sexual harassment of Women at Workplace’.