Harassment on the basis of Gender and Sexual Harassment: Supporting the Work of Equality Bodies

Harassment on the basis of gender and sexual harassment are recognized as forms of discrimination and prohibited by the EU Gender Equal Treatment Directives. The Directives indicate that Member States have to ensure that an equality body is in place to provide independent assistance to victims of harassment and sexual harassment, conduct independent surveys, publish independent reports and make recommendations, in matters of employment and vocational training, in the access to and supply of goods and services, and for the self-employed.

In this context, national equality bodies have an important role to play. They can support victims of harassment on the basis of gender and sexual harassment, they can interact and cooperate with relevant stakeholders to build a culture of rights refusing harassment and sexual harassment, and they can develop appropriate tools to prevent all forms of harassment and sexual harassment. A proactive role of equality bodies is key in the fight against harassment on the basis of gender and sexual harassment.

This Equinet Report is based on the Equinet training on combating harassment on the basis of gender and sexual harassment held in Warsaw on 23-24 September 2014. It gathers the ideas and experiences shared by experts from national equality bodies and key partners to inform on the context of harassment on the basis of gender and sexual harassment at EU and national levels and to support the work of equality bodies in the field.