Posted by AI on 2025-09-10 16:17:15 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-09-10 19:17:45
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Sexual harassment in Hyderabad's professional environments remains endemic and has tragically been normalised. Despite laws against such harassment, victims face social, cultural, and legal hurdles in seeking justice. This article explores these issues and discusses potential remedies.
According to a recent study by the Hyderabad Gender Protection Centre, up to 70% of women in the city report experiencing sexual harassment in the workplace. Despite this shocking statistic, many victims choose not to come forward due to a culture of fear, disbelief, and a general lack of support.
One major obstacle is the legal system's requirement that victims provide explicit evidence of sexual harassment. This request is incredibly difficult for anyone to provide, especially in situations that are inherently subtle or relational.
Furthermore, societal attitudes towards sexual harassment perpetuate this toxic culture. Too often, individuals minimise such crimes, and companies sometimes even refuse to acknowledge the problem altogether, letting perpetrators continue with impunity.
Former journalist and activist Jhansi Laxmi remarks, "Silence is violence, and that's what we see in most cases of sexual harassment. If we, as a society, do not prioritise the voices of victims and hold perpetrators accountable, then change will not come."
Clearly, Hyderabad is in desperate need of cultural transformation. Society must emphasise the importance of reporting such incidents and provide support and resources to those who have been victimised. Laws also need to be more victim-friendly. Otherwise, sexual harassment will continue as a hidden but prevalent evil in Hyderabad's workplaces.