New Delhi, Sep 26 (IANS): Sexual harassment of women is rampant at workplaces and the situation is "pathetic", women's rights activists said Friday.

"These stories (of sexual harassment) are of empowered women. It is an uphill task to educate women about this issue," National Commission for Women (NCW) member Shamina Shafique said at a book release function here.

The book "Engendering the Workplace: Gender Discrimination and Prevention of Sexual Harassment in Organisations" has been authored by woman rights activist Martha Farrell.

Asserting that civil society organisations were essential to spread awareness on this issue, she said: "It was important to reach out to organisational heads to sensitize them".

According to Pinky Anand, additional solicitor general Supreme Court of India, there was a need to activate young girls and make them more aware.

"This is a discrimination of the worst kind," she said.

She said: "Companies should realize that sexual harassment decreases efficiency at the work place.

"If women are not safe, they are not happy and that affects the work atmosphere and efficiency."

Human resource professional Prabhat Krishna said that while multinational companies have addressed these issues, it was small scale industries where Vishakha guidelines, which form a part of the sexual harassment at work act, are not implemented properly.