What is sexual harrassment?

Sexual harassment is one of the most common forms of Violence Against Women. Sexual harassment is defined as receiving any unwanted conduct of a sexual nature including sexual comments, fondling, lewd gestures, jokes, emails, smses, pornographic pictures, coercion and more.

Women are sexually harassed habitually in public and especially at the workplace.  In the workplace, sexual harassment is seldom recognized or linked to the broader issue of Violence against Women and discrimination.
Fast facts : 

  • A 2002 study conducted by AWAM and Women’s Development Collective (WDC) found that 35% of respondents in Malaysia had experienced one or more forms of sexual harassment.
  • Sexual harassment consists of a wide range of behaviors and actions, most common of these are verbal forms of harassment such as jokes, obscene language and suggestive remarks. Many consider these ‘harmless’ and victims are often accused of over-reacting.
  • Studies show that survivors of sexual harassment are more likely to be in the lower rungs of the company i.e. in subordinate positions.
  • Studies show that survivors are mostly likely to not take any action due to fear of reprisal.
  • There is currently no Malaysian law criminalizing sexual harassment. There is only a Code of Practice on the Prevention and Eradication of Sexual Harassment in the Workplace, launched in 1999 by the Ministry of Human Resources.
  • Legal action can be taken under other provisions in the Penal Code, Employment Act 1955, and the Industrial Relations Act 1967.
  • Sexual harassment can be very traumatizing for women resulting in emotional stress, low productivity and damaged self-esteem.

What to do if you have been or are being sexually harrassed?
  • Tell the harasser that you don’t like his actions and that you want him to stop.
  • If the harassment continues, tell your Human Resources department or your union representative.
  • Keep all evidence of the harassment for e.g. emails, smses etc.
  • Keep a written account of the harassment including date, time, the harasser’s name and how the incident(s) happened.
  • If no action is taken or there is no one you can report this to within your organisation or company, you may lodge a report with the Labour Department or the police.
  • Tell a trusted colleague who can give you emotional support.
  • Call us or a women’s NGO for help and guidance.

Sexual Harrassment campaigns:

Together with the Joint Action Group for Gender Equality (JAG) AWAM campaigns for the enactment of a Sexual Harassment Act.

We were only one of two NGOs on the government’s Technical Working Committee that produced the Code of Practice on the Prevention and Eradication of Sexual Harassment in the in the Workplace that was introduced in 1999. The Code has been an important addition to anti-sexual harassment efforts in this country but is insufficient particularly since it is not compulsory for private sector entities to implement it.

In 2001, AWAM supported a petition drive coordinated by the Women’s Centre for Change which received 12,000 signatures – including from more then 60 organisations – backing this legislation. Lobbying work for the enactment of the Sexual Harassment Act is still in progress as we seek for adequate, timely and effective redress mechanisms for victims, and for the promotion of a healthy and respectful working environment.
                                                                                                 


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