⚖️ Anti-Sexual Harassment Bill still pending in Cayman Islands

The Anti-Sexual Harassment Bill, which has been under review since 2022, is still being examined by the Cayman Islands government. Katherine Ebanks-Wilks, the minister responsible for gender affairs, revealed that the bill was reconsidered by the Caucus a few months ago, with government members requesting changes. The bill aims to address issues of sexual harassment, bullying, and unwanted attention, which have persisted as successive governments have delayed passing the legislation. 🧐

Former premier Wayne Panton, who guided the draft bill through nearly a year of public consultation in 2023, questioned why it hadn't been approved by the Cabinet. In response, Ebanks-Wilks stated that the Gender Affairs Unit had been asked to review the proposed law and explore additional options for reporting and adjudicating sexual harassment cases. Despite more than 300 individuals and organizations participating in the consultation process, the bill has been delayed again due to challenges from the business community regarding provisions designed to protect all workers from inappropriate behavior and harassment. 📚

With the potential proroguing of parliament in February or March, the legislation is unlikely to be brought before the General Election. The consultation period was already extended and the bill redrafted last year, leaving it unclear why the issues concerning the MPs in Caucus were not addressed at that time. 🕰️