To day I have the pleasure to address you my fellow citizens on the commencement of Sexual Harassment Awareness Week in Grenada. This is a topic that we all wish we never have to talk about. However, it is a reality that we can no longer ignore. This problem is not unique to our Island, it is universal. The Ministry of Social Development- Gender & Family Affairs together with Grenada National Organization of Women (GNOW) recognizes September 13 -21, 2008 as Sexual Harassment Awareness Week. The objective of sexual harassment awareness week is to raise and increase public awareness with regards to Sexual Harassment and to foster change in societal behaviour around this issue in order to prevent other tragedies from occurring. Although the fight against sexual harassment started relatively late in Grenada, by no means it is a new problem or should be considered a new problem. It is an old problem with new faces. The Ministry of Social Development, GNOW and other Stakeholders, are working to end this problem in it overall drive for equity in the workplace and society in General. Prior to 2006 advocates in Grenada concentrated most of their attention on the more blatant problems such as domestic violence and women simply not being hired for certain positions at all, or hired to do the same job but for a significantly lower wage and as such extensive discrimination in employment. While sexual harassment on the job existed and continues, advocates found that energies of persons seeking employment were occupied by other issues such as lack of food within the household. Those persons therefore did not worry about issues involving sexual harassment until the more immediate problem of material sustenance was dealt with. Hence the urgency to end this discrimination Sexual harassment affects women and men in one form or the other. Lewd remarks, an uncomfortable touch, whistles, and unwelcome looks have become part of our everyday life, so much so that they are often dismissed as normal. In the work places and other recreational areas, sexual harassment is widely practiced. Working men and women face a backlash because they are now taking on roles previously dominated by either of the sexes. Sexual harassment in workplaces and other settings is a serious form of violence and crosses every societal boundary affecting the smooth functioning of our families, organizations and communities. That is why we are drawing the line. A concept paper on Sexual Harassment in Grenada was prepared by Grenada National Organization of Women (GNOW) in collaboration with The Ministry of Social Development and other Social Partners on May 2008. This concept paper contains four keys sections: (1) Introduction (2) Statement of Problems (3) Legal (4) consideration and Recommendation, The Ministry of Social Development together with GNOW and our social partners, are working on a Bill, using the concept paper as the base document. Notwithstanding the fact that women predominantly fall prey to instances of sexual harassment, the intention is for both sexes to be to be covered under the Anti-Sexual Harassment Bill. The Bill is being drafted as a gender neutral piece of legislation because both the Division of Gender & Family Affairs and GNOW recognize the need to utilize a balanced gendered perspective in analyzing and carrying out our work. We also understand that sexual harassment occurs to men as well. Consultation regarding the Draft Bill will take place Island wide, commencing on Tuesday September 16th, 2008. The emphasis is to identify preferred positions to be used as part of the Bill. This problem affects us all in spite of Gender, let us all show our support for this process. Let us all put an end to the problem. Come out and be a part of this exercise. Together all of us can make a difference in the way we relate to each other! Inside Grenada News