I N T R O D U C T IO N T O HA R A S SM E N T
INTRODUCTION TO HARASSMENT In order to develop an effective policy, all parliaments in the Commonwealth should be aware and able to understand the concept of harassment and the negative role it can play in the workplace. WHAT IS HARASSMENT?
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Harassment can be identified as unwanted behaviour directed at an individual with the purpose or intent of humiliating, disrespecting, intimidation, hurting or offending them.
Physical: unwanted physical contact or action directed at an individual, such as direct threats with the intent to harm, physical attacks such as hitting, kicking and pushing;
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Psychological: unwanted behaviour or actions that can negatively impact an individual’s mental wellbeing, such as spreading rumours, belittling comments or discrediting, opposing or challenging an individual’s proposals.
This unwanted behaviour could include but is not limited to: • Discriminatory: unwanted, harmful and unfair treatment towards an individual that is based on the grounds of age, disability, gender, language, nationality, political view, religion, race, sexual orientation or other status. •
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Sexual: unwanted sexual advance or request directed at an individual such as inappropriate physical contact or remarks about a person’s body or clothing, unwanted messages, calls, gifts or advances;
Harassment could also include some bullying behaviour, such as verbal or written abuse, threats, rude jokes, facial expressions and gestures, amongst many other actions. Additionally, coercion, the action of forcefully persuading or threatening an individual to do something which includes behaviours, such as blackmail, extortion, threats or physical and sexual assaults could also be considered as a form of harassment.
