By the Numbers

THE FACTS

Research Chermaine Lee | Graphics Inês de Campos Alves

A GLOBAL PROBLEM

65% OF ALL GIRLS IN THE UK, INDIA, BRAZIL AND KENYA have been sexually harassed.

What percentage of sexual harassment incidents go unreported?

Brazil 86%

South Africa 73%

United Kingdom 69%

India 49%

Source: ActionAid International

WORST OFFENDERS

These are a few of the world’s worst places for sexual harassment, based on the percentage of women who say they have been victims.*

US 65%

UK 65%

AUSTRALIA 71%

SOUTH AFRICA 77%

THAILAND 86%

EGYPT 99.3%

* Data is not available on all countries worldwide.

Sources 資料來源 : United Nations, ActionAid, UN Women, Australian Human Rights Commission, Stop Street Harassment

INDUSTRY STANDARDS

The highest incidences of sexual harassment by industry in Australia, Singapore and the US.

AUSTRALIA

Information, media and telecommunications

Arts and recreation services

Electricity, gas, water and waste services

SINGAPORE

Business, trade, banking and finance

Sales and marketing

Hospitality

US

Media

Technologies and communications

Consulting and management

Sources: Aware, Center for Talent Innovation, Australian Human Rights Commission

SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE SARS

How many people reported incidences of sexual harassment in Hong Kong and Macao?

HONG KONG* POPULATION: 7.34 MILLION PEOPLE

967 REPORTS

MACAO** POPULATION: 612,167 PEOPLE

62 REPORTS

*in 2017 **From August 2017, when the sexual harrassment law was passed, to the end of 2018.

Source: Hong Kong Census and Statistics Department, Public Prosecutions Office of Macao

AVERAGE AGE

Which age group is most likely to be harassed in Hong Kong?

30-44: 21%

25-29: 17.6%

20-24: 17.1%

Source: RainLily

BREAKING IT DOWN

Here’s a look at the types of cases handled by the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC), the statutory body overseeing discrimination-related matters in Hong Kong:

7,310 TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES PROCESSED in 2008 - 2017

2,361 TOTAL NUMBER OF INVESTIGATED COMPLAINTS UNDER SEX DISCRIMINATION ORDINANCE.

858 (36%) Sexual harassment

1,076 (46%) Pregnancy discrimination

237 (10%) Sex discrimination

190 (8%) Other

89% 760 Employment-related sexual

62% 262 Sexual harassment cases that were settled through conciliation.

Source: EOC

IT TAKES TIME

In Hong Kong, how long does it take for a victim to come forward?

8 to 31 days: 18.6%

3 to 12 months: 21.4%

1 to 5 years: 19%

Source: RainLily

SETTLEMENTS IN HONG KONG

A look at compensation from Sex Discrimination Ordinance-related complaints between 2013 and 2017.

HK$15 MILLION - The total amount of cash compensation secured through conciliation and legal action.

HK$68,000 - The average amount of cash compensation per successful case.

Source: EOC

NEED-TO-KNOW TERMS

We asked RainLily, the city’s first crisis centre for survivors of sexual violence, to help us unpack commonly used terms and how they’re applied in Hong Kong.

Words Rafelle Allego

CONSENT: When a person agrees to sexual activity without coercion. Communicated either verbally or through body language, consent can be given and withdrawn anytime. Those who are mentally incapacitated or under the age of 16cannot give consent. Any sexual activity without consent is considered sexual violence.

SEXUAL VIOLENCE: A violent sexual offence – whether via actions, language or attitude – with the intention to dominate, control and insult the victim.This includes rape, sexual assault and sexual harassment. Sexual violence is a type of ‘gender based violence’ because it disproportionately affects women and girls.

SEXUAL VIOLENCE is not a legal term in Hong Kong. RainLily uses sexual violence as an umbrella term to describe the following types of harmful acts:

Sexual Harassment - An offensive act that’s sexual in nature and causes the victim to feel uncomfortable, humiliated, intimidated or disrespected. Sexual harassment can include unwelcomed advances, solicitation of sex, and other forms of physical or verbal harassment with sexual connotations. It's a civil, not a criminal, offense in Hong Kong and recourse is processed through either the Equal Opportunities Commission (within 12 months) or through civil litigation at District Court (within 24 months).

Image-based Sexual Abuse - Any non-consensual creation or distribution of a person’s private sexual images, including ‘revenge porn’, upskirting, sexualised photoshopping, and sexual extortion. Image-based sexual abuse is currently not considered to be sexual harassment in Hong Kong based on the Sex Discrimination Ordinance.

Upskirting - The act of taking a sexually intrusive photograph up someone’s skirt without their permission. Hong Kong does not have a specific law against upskirting and such conduct is not considered a sex crime, however, the perpetrator can be charged with loitering or disorderly conduct if it occurs a public place.

Sexual Assault - Unwanted sexual contact, sometimes excluding penetration. Sexual assault includes attempted rape and non-consensual kissing, groping or fondling. Female genital mutilation is also classified as sexual assault.

Indecent Assault - Non-consensual sexual conduct ranging from unwanted groping to oral or anal penetration – neither of which are considered rape in Hong Kong. The maximum sentence for indecent assault is 10 years’ imprisonment.

Rape - Non-consensual penetration of a woman’s vagina with a penis. In Hong Kong, only women can legally be victims of rape. The maximum penalty is life imprisonment.

WHAT TO DO

If you’re a victim of sexual violence, follow these steps:

01 Get to a safe place with someone you trust

02 Seek immediate medical attention for injuries, sexually transmitted infections or an emergency contraceptive

03 If you wish to have a forensic examination (a rape kit), you must report your case to the police first

IF YOU ARE REPORTING TO THE POLICE,PLEASE BE AWARE OF THE FOLLOWING:

The forensic examination is preferred to be conducted within 72 hours

Retain any physical evidence, including clothes

Resist bathing or cleaning the scene, so police can collect forensic evidence

Learn more: rainlily.org.hk

ARIANA 2019