ActionAid Association’s national Her Safety Matters campaign works to make workplaces safer for women, particularly those employed in the informal sector. Women working in warehouses, brick kilns, farms, markets and small manufacturing units are often excluded from formal workplace protections and may have limited access to grievance mechanisms.

The campaign creates awareness of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013—commonly known as the PoSH Act—and explains the role of Internal Committees and Local Committees. Through public outreach, trained volunteers, local-language booklets and sustained community engagement, it helps women recognise sexual harassment, understand their rights and seek redress without fear.

Our Reach

The campaign has built awareness, strengthened complaint mechanisms and connected women workers with institutional support across India.

• 18 states and 218 districts covered
• 463,200 people reached through awareness activities
• 76,996 women informal workers trained
• 724 Internal Committees formed
• 992 Internal Committee members trained
• 168 Local Committees activated

Across six states, Her Safety Matters directly reached 234,077 informal women workers, helping transform silence and isolation into awareness and collective courage.

In Madhya Pradesh, collaboration with the police reached more than 100,000 people with messages on gender equality, child safety and substance-abuse prevention. The campaign also supported the Shakti Run 2025, which brought together 1,500 young people to promote safer cities for women.

Stories of Change in Action

Names changed to protect identity.

From silence to the first formal complaint in Hingoli

Women employed at a remote warehouse in Hingoli, Maharashtra, had endured verbal abuse, unwanted touching and persistent harassment for years, believing it was simply part of their job. Campaign volunteers helped them understand sexual harassment, confidentiality and the process for approaching the Local Committee. Within 48 hours, Urmila* and another worker filed the area’s first formal complaints. An inquiry followed, the supervisor was suspended, and the warehouse was directed to install CCTV cameras and a complaint box.

“Today I work without fear. I know my rights.”

Safer working conditions at a brick kiln

At a brick kiln in Aundha Nagnath, Hingoli district, harassment had long been accepted as unavoidable. After the campaign reached the workers, two women came forward. Their action led to the removal of the accused and the introduction of stronger safety measures. Within weeks, workplace behaviour changed and women returned to work with renewed confidence.

Objectives of the Campaign

• Build awareness among informal women workers about sexual harassment and their rights under the PoSH Act.
• Make legal information accessible through community outreach and simple local-language resources.
• Help women safely report workplace harassment and access confidential, responsive redress mechanisms.
• Strengthen Internal Committees and Local Committees through formation, activation and member training.
• Improve coordination between communities, local authorities and police personnel.
• Bring information about committee members and complaint channels closer to women workers.
• Challenge the normalisation of workplace harassment and build safer, more dignified working environments.