CBCI COUNCIL FOR WOMEN

PROMULGATION OF ‘CBCI GUIDELINES TO DEAL WITH SEXUAL HARASSMENT AT WORKPLACE’

14th September 2017, CBCI Centre.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India released the ‘CBCI Guidelines to deal with Sexual Harassment at Workplace’ at CBCI Centre, Ashok Place, New Delhi. The document was released by Most Rev Theodore Mascarenhas SFX, Secretary General of the CBCI.

Most Rev Jacob Mar Barnabas OIC, Chairperson of CBCI Council for Women, Most Rev. Anil J Couto, Archbishop of Delhi, Most. Rev Kuriakose Bharanikulangara, Bishop of Faridabad, Msgr Joseph Chinnayyan, Deputy Secretary General, CBCI, Rev Sr. Talisha Nadukudiyil SD, National Secretary, CBCI Council for Women, Rev Sr. Sneha Gill, Minority Commission Member, Delhi State and experts from different fields at the historic moments of the Church. The ‘Guidelines’ were approved by the CBCI standing Committee in September 2016. They are prepared and published by CBCI Council for Women. These Guidelines will be implemented in all the Catholic Institutions all over India.

Sr. Talisha welcomed the gathering and thanked all those who had contributed in putting together these Guidelines. Bishop Barnabas in his introduction to the document explained the salient features of the Guidelines being promulgated. Bishop Theodore conveyed the greetings of the CBCI President Cardinal Baselios Cleemis and his full support to the work of the Women’s Council.  He praised the Women’s Council under the leadership of Bishop Barnabas and Sr. Talisha for the dedicated hard work they had put in to prepare the Guidelines.

The Catholic Church has always affirmed and celebrated the value and dignity of women, so well personified, in Mary our heavenly Mother. The Catholic Church in India is seriously concerned about the increasing violence against women and girl children in Indian Society. The promulgation of the Guidelines is a step ahead of the Civil Law by being gender inclusive and by setting up a detailed structural procedure.

Sr Talisha SD