Appointment of Committee Members and Holding of 'Standing Committee'... Significant Expansion of External Experts
[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] Busan City's permanent committee for deliberating complaints of sexual harassment and sexual violence has been launched.
Busan City (Acting Mayor Lee Byung-jin) announced on the 4th that on February 23rd, it held the "Busan Metropolitan City Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence Grievance Deliberation Committee," appointed members, and deliberated and resolved the "2021 Workplace Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence Eradication Promotion Plan."
The committee had been operating on an ad hoc basis for matters related to judgments of sexual harassment and sexual violence and requests for disciplinary action.
With the enactment of the "Ordinance on the Prevention of Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence and Protection and Support for Victims in Busan City," its function has been strengthened as a permanent committee.
The main functions include advising and deliberating on matters related to victim protection and measures against perpetrators, prevention of recurrence, promotion plans according to policies necessary for prevention of sexual harassment and sexual violence and victim protection and support, and evaluation of the implementation of these plans.
On the 23rd, 12 members excluding ex officio members were appointed, making a total of 15 members.
The committee composition is as follows: ▲ 3 ex officio members (Chairman of the Audit Committee, Director of the Administrative Autonomy Bureau, Director of the Women and Family Bureau) ▲ 1 member recommended by organizations related to sexual harassment and sexual violence ▲ 5 members with extensive academic knowledge and experience related to sexual harassment and sexual violence ▲ 4 lawyers or labor attorneys with expertise in the field of sexual harassment and sexual violence ▲ 1 member recommended by the Busan Public Officials Labor Union ▲ 1 member recommended by the Busan Women and Family Development Institute.
The grievance deliberation committee deliberated and resolved the "2021 Workplace Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence Eradication Promotion Plan."
Accordingly, the city plans to create a safe and equal workplace free from sexual harassment and sexual violence by promoting three major strategies: ▲ establishing an effective prevention system ▲ fair and strict incident response ▲ prevention of secondary damage and victim protection and support.
This year, the Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence Eradication Task Force plans to ▲ conduct small-group discussion-type violence prevention education ▲ carry out qualitative surveys centered on interviews capturing the vivid voices of victims ▲ promote anti-sexual harassment and sexual violence pledges when political public officials such as the mayor begin their terms ▲ take strong personnel actions against perpetrators ▲ and implement a linked responsibility system with immediate supervisors.
In addition, the city plans to establish a strong response system for repeated sexual harassment and sexual violence incidents within public organizations by ▲ revising victim protection guidelines from reporting to post-reporting stages and ▲ providing direct support to victims such as medical expenses and housing support.
Acting Mayor Lee Byung-jin of Busan said, "We will recognize differences and eradicate not only sexual harassment and sexual violence but all workplace violence through a gender-equal organizational culture," adding, "We will do our best to promote the eradication of workplace sexual harassment and sexual violence through the operation of the Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence Grievance Deliberation Committee, which is composed to enhance fairness and expertise."
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