Sexual harassment is any unwanted and unwelcome words, conduct, or behaviour of a sexual nature which:
- violates your dignity
- makes you feel intimidated, embarrassed, degraded or humiliated
- creates a hostile or offensive environment
Sexual harassment can include (but not restricted to): sexually degrading comments or gestures, unwelcome sexual advances, e-mails or text messages with sexual content, someone displaying sexually explicit pictures in your space or a shared space, your body being stared or leered at spreading sexual rumours, being subjected to sexual jokes or propositions. The unwanted sexual behaviour/ conduct can occur in person, online or on the phone.
You don’t need to have previously objected to someone's behaviour for it to be considered unwanted. It does not matter if others think the behaviour was ok or common- it is for the the individual/s subjected to or witnessing the harassment to decide if its unwanted.
Sexual harassment is recognised as a form of unlawful discrimination under the Equality Act 2010. Some forms of sexual harassment are automatically criminal offences such as stalking, indecent exposure, and ‘upskirting’ and other forms of sexual harassment might break criminal law in certain circumstances.
You can report an incident of sexual violence and find out how to get support via Report and Support.
Check out these FAQs for more information:
What is Report and Support?
What is sexual violence?
What is sexual assault?
