Introduction

Home: Survivors: Sexual Harrassment: Sexual harrassment

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This material is reproduced on this website with the kind permission of the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission and may not be copied, reproduced or altered in any way or used for any purpose other than on the SECASA web pages without the express permission of the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission.

Introduction

The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission works to promote equal opportunity and eliminate discrimination.

The Commission does this by:

• Providing an impartial, confidential and free complaints resolution service.
• Providing information and education programs about equal opportunity rights, responsibilities and complaint resolution processes.

The Commission also acts under delegation from the federal Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commissioners, handling complaints of discrimination made under the following federal legislation

Sex Discrimination Act 1984
Racial Discrimination Act 1975
Disability Discrimination Act 1992

Website: http://www.hreoc.gov.au/

Under the Victorian Equal Opportunity Act 1995 it is against the law to sexually harass another person.

A person sexually harasses another person if he or she makes an unwelcome sexual advance, request for sexual favours or engages in any other unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature.

Sexual harassement is behaviour of a sexual nature that is unwelcome, unsolicited and unreciprocated. It can consist of:

• comments about a person's sex life or physical appearance
• suggestive behaviour such as leering and ogling
• unnecessary pysical intimacy such as brushing up against a person
• sexual jokes, offensive telephone calls, photographs, reading matter or objects
• sexual propositions or continued requests for dates
• physical contact such as touching or fondling
• indecent assault or rape (which are also criminal offences).

Sexual harassment can be physical, verbal or written. It can include words or statements which are transmitted by phone, fax, video conference or e-mail.

Where is sexual harassment prohibited?

• employment
• accommodation
• education
• provision of goods and services and disposal of land
• clubs and club members
• sport
• local government

Sponsor

Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission

Disclaimer Copyright Updated: 22 Apr 2010