Sexual harrassment

Many girls are subject to sexual harassment at school, in the work place, at home and in general public settings. It can lead to embarrassment, loss of confidence and can have a negative impact on an individual both mentally, physically and socially. Sexual harassment towards young girls makes them feel inferior towards men in society. The fact that sexual harassment cases are often looked over and not handled by authorities in a formal and appropriate manner has a detrimental effect on one's confidence, esteem, physical and mental well-being.

What is sexual harassment?
Definition: Sexual harassment is any form of offensive sexual attention that is uninvited and unwelcome. It can occur between persons of the opposite or same sex and it does not need to be a series of incidents or even an ongoing pattern of behaviour. One single act can constitute harassment (Fiji National Policy).

Note: For Fiji’s legislations, only the Employment Relations Promulgations addresses sexual harassment while the Crimes Decree refers to it as sexual assaults. According to Fiji’s legislation, their definition of sexual harassment is that it only happens in the work place and cases as such dealt with in Employment Relations Tribunal. Occurring outside workplace setting is regarded as crime of sexual assault in the Crimes Decree and is dealt with in the Courts.

It includes:

·         Unwanted and unwelcome sexual remarks, advances, gestures, flirtations and behaviour.

·         Visual material that is sexist, sexually explicit.

·         Leering, pinching, touching.

·         Comments and questions about another person's sexuality, sexual conduct or private relationships.

·         Gender-biased bullying or intimidation

·         Propositions, requests or pressure for sexual favours or activities.

·         The soliciting of sexual favours in exchange for promotion or any work related benefit or reward.

·         Rejection of behaviour of a sexual nature, by a worker, is used as the basis for  decisionsfor decisions affecting the worker's career.

·         Behaviour unreasonably interfering with a worker's performance and overall comfort.

·         Offensive written, telephone or electronic mail or other computer system communications.

This means that if you have experienced or are experiencing any of the above, then you can make a complaint and report this to the Police Human Rights Commission, and organisations such asLegal Aid, Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commissionthe Police, the Fiji Women's Rights Movement and the Fiji Women's Crisis Centre.

Tips:

1.       If a person is requesting you to engage in sexual activity with them, or making unwanted sexual remarks then reply with a firm 'No!' and sternly tell them that you do not like it, it makes you uncomfortable and that they must stop.

2.       If it continues report to a trusted senior officer in a work place, a teacher or principal in a school, the police, FijiHhuman Rrights and Anti-Discrimination Ccommission, or organisations such as Legal Aid,Fiji Women's Crisis Centre and Fiji Women's Rights Movement.

Links to the United Nations guidelines on sexual harassment and the Fiji National Policy on sexual harassment in the workplace is in the description below.

http://www.un.org/womenwatch/osagi/pdf/whatissh.pdf

http://www.labour.gov.fj/bills/National%20Policy%20On%20Sexual%20Harrassment.pdf