Sexual Harassment - half of British women and a fifth of men have been sexually harassed

25/10: Half of British women and a fifth of men have experienced Sexual Harassment at work or a place of study, according to a BBC survey. 63% of the women said they didn't report it to anyone, and 79% of the male victims kept it to themselves, according to this survey of sexual harassment in the UK.

Women and men who have been sexually harassed have been revealing their experiences on social media using the #Me Too to show the magnitude of the problem worldwide.

This has followed allegations, including rape and sexual assault, against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein from more than two dozen women - among them actresses Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow and Rose McGowan.

More than a quarter of people surveyed had suffered Sexual Harassment in the form of inappropriate jokes or "banter" and nearly one in seven had suffered inappropriate touching.

According to British law, harassment is any form of unwanted conduct related to any of the discriminatory grounds. It is any form of unwanted verbal, non-verbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature. If the conduct has the purpose or effect of violating a person's dignity and creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating, or offensive environment, then it is considered gender harassment for which the employer is responsible. Sexual harassment at the workplace is prohibited.

Employers must take all reasonable steps to ensure a workplace free from harassment and Sexual Harassment by either preventative or reactive measures. An employer will be liable for harassment in the workplace by its employees, clients, customers or other business contacts, if the employer does not take reasonable steps to prevent it. Protection from Harassment Act 1997 also provides civil remedies and criminal punishments in respect of harassment. This is sexual harassment law.

Sexual Harassment can take a variety of forms. It includes both physical violence and more subtle forms of violence such as coercion – forcing somebody to do something they don’t want to. It can take a long-term form – repeated sexual “jokes”, constant (unwanted) invitations to go on a date, or unwelcome flirting of a sexual nature. And it can be a one-off incident – touching or fondling somebody inappropriately, or even sexual abuse or rape.

It can take place anywhere – at work, at university, on the street, in a shop, at a club, while using public transport, at an airport, even in the home. Basically, it is unwelcome sexual attention that can take place in any public place, and also in private spaces.

Find out more about harassment, the law, and policies

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