KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange, says the Prevention of Sexual Harassment Bill, which includes the revisions recommended by Cabinet, is ready for approval.

“It will now go to the Subcommittee of Cabinet that deals with legislation, and then it will be sent with a report back to Cabinet for approval. It will be tabled in the House this quarter,” Grange said. 

She was speaking at a Caribbean Media and Gender Forum hosted by Women’s Media Watch (WMW) Jamaica at the Caribbean School of Media and Communication (CARIMAC), University of the West Indies today.

“The Bill now reflects recommendations that came from Cabinet regarding the establishment of a Sexual Harassment Tribunal to hear all sexual harassment matters and the designation of field officers from the Bureau of Gender Affairs as authorised officers,” the minister said.

She described the amendments to the draft Bill, which included new proposals for hearing sexual harassment complaints, as “major achievements”.

According to the minister, the new proposals include a mechanism for complaints to be dealt with by the Bureau of Gender Affairs, which will be conducting investigations to address reports that have been filed.

The Prevention of Sexual Harassment Bill seeks to protect women and men from unwanted sexual advances, requests for sexual favours, and crude sexual behaviours that affect quality of life by creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment.