KUALA LUMPUR: A special tribunal to manage and hear cases involving sexual harassment will be set up, says Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

Dr Wan Azizah, who is also Women, Family and Community Development Minister, said it was part of the ministry’s plan to improve the justice system involving the issue.

“It will be included in the Sexual Harassment Act which is currently being discussed by the ministry with agencies, NGOs and the Attorney General’s Chambers, ” she told reporters at a mass circumcision event here yesterday.

She said the Bill, which was initially slated to be debated in Parliament this year, was expected to be tabled next year.

This was because there were still some things that needed to be decided and agreed upon such as the remedies, burden of proof and so on, she added.

Dr Wan Azizah said all these matters were important to ensure that existing legal barriers were resolved and that the Bill could address this issue and provide protection to victims of sexual harassment.

“The complaint mechanism also needs to be simplified so that more victims can come forward while the remedies and penalties are given attention, ” she said. — Bernama