Sexual harassment is any unwanted and unwelcome words, conduct, or behaviour of a sexual nature which:
- violates your dignity
- makes you feel intimidated, embarrassed, degraded or humiliated
- creates a hostile or offensive environment
You don’t need to have previously objected to someone's behaviour for it to be considered unwanted.
Sexual harassment can include:
- someone making sexually degrading comments or gestures
- physical behaviour, including unwelcome sexual advances and touching
- e-mails or text messages with sexual content
- someone displaying sexually explicit pictures in your space or a shared space, such as at work
- your body being stared or leered at
- being subjected to sexual jokes or propositions
Sexual harassment is recognised as a form of discrimination under the Equality Act 2010 and is therefore against the law.