_{Washim Mia, Staff Correspondent: (RMG Times) A Multi-stakeholder seminar was held yesterday, 18 September 2018, at the conference hall of Royal Marino hotel in Dhaka organized by Shojag, a coalition consisting of five NGOs- Bangladesh Legal Aid and Service Trust (BLAST), BRAC, Christian Aid and SNV Netherlands Development Organization. It was a part of their project ‘An Initiative to End Gender-Based Violence in the Garments Industry’ which is being funded by Global Fund for Women.}

_{The objectives of the seminar were to share updates of Shojag project, disseminate and discuss the findings of baseline survey and factory assessment and to create greater awareness about the High Court Guidelines on sexual harassment in the workplace.}

_{Anchored by Mr. Jamal Uddin, Inclusive Business Advisor of SNV, the program started proceeding with the welcome speech from Ms. Ishita Islam, Project Head of Human Rights and Legal Aid Services (HRLS) Programme –BRAC.}

_{There were the different presentations on -High Court Guideline on Harassment in the Workplace, Shojag Baseline Study Findings and selected Facilities Assessment Survey conducted by Ms. Taposhi Rabeya, Assistant Director (Mediation)-BLAST, Ms. Maheen Sultan, Team Leader & Member- Naripokkho and Ms. Koyela Sharmin, Private Sector Engagement Advisor- SNV Netherlands Development Organization respectively followed by open discussion.}

_{Ms. Taposhi Rabeya discussed about existing the High Directives on sexual harassment, definition of it and what sexual harassments are still prevailed in the RMG factories, grievance committee formation, time frame and their working method and what kind punishments can be applied for the perpetrators.}

_{Ms. Maheen Sultan projected some key findings from her presentation on Baseline study report which was conducted picking 382 female workers from selected garment factories located in Savar, Ashulia, Gazipur and Kaliakoir.}

_{Ms. Koyela Sharmin in her presentation showed what they have got in context of assessing Gender- Based Violence (GBV) in 8 selected garments factories specially Violence Against Women (VAW). The report explored some major findings regarding GVB and provided recommendations for those as well.}

_{Mr. Matiur Rahman, Director Inspector General (DIG)- Department of Inspection for Factory Establishments (DIFE), Mr. Saiful Millat, Country Representative-amfori BSCI, Mr. Sakeb Nabi, Country Representative- Christian Aid attended the seminar as the special guests. Among others some 70 delegates coming from different garments factories, NGOs, trade unions, audit companies and media also attended the session.}

_{‘Usually the minor hazards are not reported properly in our garments factories. May be workers are not willing to make those hazards aware to the management even if the management is trying to address them. One day these minors can be a major one, so these have to be identified by any means. To get rid of GBV, risk assessment is a must. So, the people representing the anti-sexual harassment committee need to assess the risks related to it and then take corrective and preventive actions’ saying Mr. Matiur Rahman in his address.}

_{At the end questions and answer segment was very interactive part of the program. The delegates exchanged their views and knowledge with one other. The seminar came to an end with the closing remarks from Mr. Jamal Uddin.}