them understand the woman's perspective when hearing cases involving violence against women, it was claimed last night.

And sentences handed down to people found guilty of these crimes are "too low, inconsistent, and ... don't send a message that it is unacceptable behaviour'', said Woman's Advisory Council chairwoman Mrs. Kim Young.

Mrs. Young was speaking at a public forum attended by about 200 people on "Women of the 90's -- Still Waiting to Exhale, sponsored by the Human Rights Commission.

Mrs. Young, who also sits on the Sexual Assault Review Board, said the legal community must become more aware of the modern woman and refrain from making demeaning comments in court which devalue women.

She listed several cases from this year, in which men were given light sentences for brutal offences. In one, a man who was fined $200 for damages to his ex-wife's car after he punched and kicked her, then jammed her arm in the vehicle's door.

Referring to the idea of doing away with the traditional wigs and robes worn by lawyers and magistrates, Ms Young said: "Perhaps they can throw out their outmoded views with their gowns.'' She suggested a series of gender-bias seminars for judges -- a scheme which has been successful in Canada -- to open magistrates' eyes to women's point of view.

Ms Young emphasised that "not all judges'' dispensed such light penalties, and she said change in the court rooms could only come about through tougher laws. She said women should be able to walk the streets alone at night, live in their homes, wear any clothing they wish and "say no'' without fear.

"No one `asks for it','' she said.

She urged concerned individuals: "Call your MPs, call into television and radio shows and write letters to the Editor'' to bring about change. The Chairperson of the UK Equal Opportunity Commission, Ms Valerie Amos, tackled the subject of equal pay and opportunities for women in the workplace.

She said the UK Sexual Discrimination Act, while a step in the right direction, simply gave people the right to complain and only had limited provisions for action.

She said strong laws, access to courses of action, collective bargaining, and re-evaluation of minimum wage levels were necessary to bring about equality for all in the workplace.

The third panel member, Women's Resource Centre treasurer and hot line counsellor Mrs. Susan Boyd, addressed the relatively new topic of sexual harassment.

Mrs. Boyd defined sexual harassment as "unwarranted, unsolicited and unwelcomed sexual attention'', and said it can take the form of intimidation besides physical contact.

"Ignoring the sexual harassment will only make it worse,'' said Mrs. Boyd, who advised victims to first face the harasser and let them know their advances were not welcome. She said victims should then document any further incidents, and inform employers or landlords of the situation.

Local victims can then take criminal action in the courts, or take the case to the Human Rights Commission.

"Stop being accommodating,'' Mrs. Boyd told the radio and hall audience.

"You must be willing to speak out.''