No More Silence

About the book Violence against women is likely to remain with us a long time. The fight against it is going to be long and will be fought not through counter-violence but by changing the hearts of men, making it unacceptable and intolerable. Speaking out against violence with facts, figures and trenchant arguments again and again will take us some way toward stopping it. Sister Tresa Paul's book contributes to take us on that path. - Maja Daruwala Director, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, New Delhi Insightful and thought provoking! It equips the reader with the thorough knowledge of both conceptual and legal aspect of the issue. This book will interest women workers of their rights, students in the field of women's / gender studies as well as activists, NGOs, women's Groups and Human Right organizations. In essence the book will contribute to "Breaking the Culture of Silence" - Dr. Ruth Manorama, Recipient, Right to Livelihood Award, 2006 In a carefully researched and cogently argued volume. Sr. Tresa Paul, a trained advocate, impressively captures the entire sweep of the law related to sexual violence and sexual harassment of women. It is omnibus in its scope, but still accessible equally to experts as well as lay persons who seek to understand and use the law to fight gender-based violence and injustice. - Harsh Mander Special Commissioner to the Supreme Court of India on Right to Food Advocate Tresa Paul has presented the law on harassment of women within the context of the broader issue of violence against women in society today. It is a book useful to both lawmen and laymen alike. The book may be one of the rare attempts in this field to incorporate story telling with analytical methodology. This may endear the work to the common reader and the NGO sector in addition to the lawyers. - Dr. M. P. Raju Advocate, Supreme Court of India Gender inequality is an urgent issue in patriarchal societies. Though some progress, our society is far from delivering on the Constitutional promises made some seventy years ago. In this context, the sexual harassment of women is a compelling issue we must address as a society. This book takes a first step in 'breaking the silence' on the sexual harassment and violence in our society, by making women aware of their rights and their protection in law. For those in the NGO sector, it is an excellent training manual for legal activists and for an informed advocacy programme. - Rudolf C. Heredia S. J. Research Consultant, Indian Social Institute, New Delhi About the Author Adv. Tresa Paul SCSC, also known as Thressiamma K. P. in the official re-cords, hails from Kerala. She belongs to the Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy of the Holy Cross, Patna in the State of Bihar. She has done her gradu-ation in Social Work (B.S.W) from 'Roshni Nilaya,' Mangalore under Mangalore University and has secured first rank in the University for the same. As a social activist she has worked in the remote villages of Bihar for the empowerment of women at the grass-roots level. After witnessing the exploitation of the poor in the villag es, especially women; she decided to become a lawyer for the poor and the voiceless of the Society. After completing LL.B. and getting registered in the Bihar State Bar Council, she began practicing law at the Hon'ble Patna High CouWrt. Later on, the author did Masters in Criminal Law from Pune University. With her vast resourcefulness, she uses her expertise in law and the experience in the social field to guide several people in need, including the people at the grass root level. Many professional groups, academic institutions, Non-Govern-mental Organizations as well as Governmental Organizations like National Human Rights Commission etc. avail her resourcefulness in the field of law. She has authored a number of articles in various journals and periodicals and has also authored a number of Legal Educations Series booklets published by Indian Social Institute, New Delhi, for the use of the common people. At present she is practicing in the Supreme Court and various other courts in Delhi. CONTENTS Prelude Dedication Abbreviations. Table of Cases With Gratitude. Foreword Introduction. Chapter One Sexual Harassment - An Overview Chapter Two Understanding Sexual Harassment - International and National Perspectives Chapter Three Protection of Women under Indian Constitution Chapter Four Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition & Redressal) Act 2013 Chapter Five Judicial Interpretations Chapter Six Know Your Law, Know Your Rights Conclusion Appendix Bibliography