Fashion and arts industry is signing a petition on sexual harassment, here is why

Lahore- After the case of Meesha Shafi and Ali Zafar prominent people from fashion and arts are now coming together to fight against sexual harassment laws. People now have become a lot more aware about the fact that sexual harassment prevails in every corner of the world especially in Pakistan. Film and fashion industry is also dominated by men where women are struggling for their rights.

“The fact that many of the people who are shaming Meesha are women is particularly shocking because I know  that the most of them have personally suffered harassment or have friends who have endured it. How can they doubt another woman for speaking out?” -Khadija Rehman 

Women are being silenced and have difficult time speaking up against such crimes. People like Khadija Rehman, Khadija Shah, Reham Bashir and transgender model Kami Sid have signed this petition which states how they all stand with Meesha Shafi and all the other survivors of sexual harassment that have come forward and are being silenced. This petition will push institutes to initiate such dialogues which will help the survivors and it will push the institutes to re-evaluate sexual harassment policies. Artists, writers and cultural practitioners are coming onboard to fight against this commonly faced issue.

All the prominent figures who have signed it strongly believe that rather than silencing the victim they should be given maximum support and power. Gender discrimination and sexist behavior should be defied. They also talked about how women who speak up against sexual harassment are public ally maligned. “Victim shaming should stop and it’s time men should think twice before they behave in an inappropriate and unwelcome way with women” said Rehan Bashir.