PESHAWAR: Hundreds of anti-harassment posters were displayed in vehicles of the Bus Rapid Transit service here on Monday.

The initiative was taken by the service operator with the collaboration of the office of the KP Ombudsperson for Protection against Harassment of Women at the Workplace.

The posters highlighted Section 509 of Pakistan Penal Code, which says, “Whoever, intending to insult the modesty of any woman, utters any word, makes any sound or gesture, or exhibits any object, intending that such word or sound shall be heard, or that such gesture or object shall be seen, by such woman, or intrudes upon the privacy of such woman, shall be punished.”

During a special ceremony organised here to mark the initiative, transport minister Shah Mohammad Khan said the BRT was a convenient and successful bus service.

Audiovisual messages will also be played in buses and at terminals, says ombudsperson

He said men should avoid sitting on the BRT bus seats designated for women. “Respecting women is a collective responsibility,” he said.

Ombudsperson for Protection against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Rukhshanda Naz said the display of anti-harassment posters on BRT buses was meant to increase the people’s awareness of Section 509 of the Pakistan Penal Code and increase their access to the services offered by her office.

She said audiovisual messages in Urdu and Pashto would also be played in BRT buses and at terminals.

“This initiative will help warn harassers about repercussion and give confidence to women commuters so that they [women] feel safe and secure while using public transport vehicles,” she said.

The ombudsperson said awareness was necessary to end harassment at public places and violence against women, so the use of BRT buses and terminals would help serve that end.

Head of the Provincial Office UN Women in KP Zainab Qaiser Khan said survivors, activists, decision-makers, UN system and people from all walks of life should jointly raise voice for the funding of women organisations, essential services, and prevention from violence.

She said ending violence against women was everyone’s responsibility, so including stakeholders like the transport department showed the commitment of the government to fulfil the shared responsibility.

“Safe transportation means freedom of mobility for women with comfort, which contributes towards the women’s empowerment. Empowered women not only raise voice for themselves but also for other vulnerable women,” she said.

Published in Dawn, December 1st, 2020