Sexual Harassment The Law and Human Rights

Sexual Harassment: Defined Engaging in a course of vexatious comment or conduct that is known or ought to be known and is unwelcome

Examples Asking for sex for something like a raise or promotion at work or withholding something like repairs to your apartment Not taking no for an answer re: dates Demanding hugs Unnecessary physical contact- unwanted touching Rude or insulting language comments that stereotype boys, girls, men, women Calling people unkind names related to sex and gender

Examples continued Making comments about someone ’ s physical appearance (e.g. whether or not they are attractive Saying/doing something because you think a person does not fit sex role stereotypes Posting/sharing pornography, sexual pictures, cartoons, grafitti or other sexual images Sexual jokes Bragging about sexual ability Bullying based on sex/gender Spreading sexual rumours or gossip (online)

The Code ’ s Five Areas of Application Services, goods, or facilities including education Housing Contracts Employment Membership in vocational institutions like unions

Reprisals for Speaking Up Getting hostile treatment Excessive scrutiny at work Social exclusion Other negative behaviour

Steps in Dealing With Harassment Speak up- tell person to stop Tell other people- maybe they have witnessed or are experiencing it themselves Document- paper trail- save text messages Report to supervisors- people in authority

Employer Steps Putting procedures in place to deal with harassment Responding quickly to human rights issues Resources should be made available Tell person who complained how to deal with issue

Criminal Harassment: Stalking calling you over and over again, and perhaps hanging up whenever you answer the phone contacting you on the Internet or through constant messages following you, your family or friends leaving threatening voice messages sending you gifts you do not want watching you or tracking where you go threatening you, your children, family, pets or friends

Be The Man: Don ’ t Harass- The Hoff Wooooooo!