Pakistan has done it and so can Saudi Arabia. The country that has lately been in the news for all the wrong reasons has joined the likes of a few other nations by passing an anti-harassment law last week which aimed "to create a safe working environment for workers which is free of sexual harassment, abuse and intimidation", and interestingly, the protection extends to men as well. The bill called 'Protection Against Harassment of Women at Workplace Bill' is said to have passed after 'overcoming years of conservative opposition'. (One wonders who would oppose punishment of harassers of their mothers, sisters and wives?)

In 2009, it was reported that Saudi Arabia is considering legislating laws to tackle sexual harassment, particularly in the workplace, the punishment for which could be up to three years imprisonment and a fine of SR100,000. The proposed draft law defined sexual harassment as "any comments, actions or signs that clearly indicate that one party wants to sexually harass another, insulting, provoking, degradation or behaving in an immodest manner".

Sadly, that draft-to-law conversion is yet to see the light of the day.

Phrases such as the 'role of women' in the workplace and 'women empowerment' have now become clichés in the Kingdom, where women are taking up jobs like never before, and are duly encouraged by the government to do so. Having a harassment law in place would not only give us more confidence, boosting our sense of security, but will also provide a carefree feel to our families as they watch us step out of the house to do our duties.

In my recently-concluded study on Muslim women media practitioners as part of my post-graduation program, a majority of the women – prominent media professionals in Saudi Arabia – admitted being subjected to work-related harassment.

The nature of this harassment varied from male interviewees/colleagues becoming too personal to oblique marriage proposals, even 'temporary wife arrangements', or verbal abuses to texts/ calls/ emails of sexual nature, etc.

Of course, even if a law penalizing workplace harassment comes into effect, and if a woman chooses to complain about someone, there is always the possibility of her getting a 'bad name' and not the harasser.

This is not to say that the buck could be guiltlessly passed on to men alone. Women too should not behave in a way (read: flirtatious) that would attract harassment. In the absence of any legislation to tackle sexual harassment, the only thing that would work in the advantage of women is Islamic ethics, such as, wearing hijab, behaving professionally and respectfully at all times, especially in the presence of men. So it's up to us to send the message across that we are no fair game for harassment of any form or kind.

But there will still be abusers, and a strong legislation is required to keep such people in check.