feelings by representatives of groups most affected.

The 1992 Human Rights Amendment Act, which was tabled in the House of Assembly on Friday, broadens the Human Rights Commission's scope and reduce discrimination on the basis of sex or disability.

Among its most significant changes will be the Commission's ability to investigate Government officials and to enable individuals to bring complaints against Government and have them enforced.

Other new provisions include: Removing the right of employers to know a job applicant's sex, marital status, and number of children; Outlawing sex discrimination in sports administrations; Requiring employers to take steps to facilitate the employment of disabled persons, "provided that those steps do not involve unreasonable hardship for employers''; Extending protection from sexual harassment to include protection from harassment by landlords, employers and fellow employees; Allowing the Commission to act upon oral complaints; and Permitting the Commission to consider a complaint that is more than six months to two years old.

Women's Advisory Council chairperson Mrs. Kim Young called the proposed amendment on sexual harassment "a great milestone for women''.

"People in the general workplace are still confused about what sexual harassment is,'' she said, "I think the debate will clear things up.'' But Mrs. Gay Robinson -- a former member of the Women's Resource Centre steering committee -- said the proposed amendment shpould contain a penalty for sexual harassment.

Mrs. Robinson, chairman of Government's Sexual Assault Review Committee, said without a penalty, the proposed amendment offered no incentive for people to report sexual harassment.

Chairperson of the Bermuda Physically Handicapped Association and Human Rights Commission member Miss Margaret Carter said: "We've been looking for the Bill to go through for a while''.

Asked about the provisions for the disabled, she said: "We can live with it''.