May is sexual violence prevention month

Sexual harassment means an unwanted action, gesture or even a comment of a sexual nature that can make a person uncomfortable, afraid or embarrassed. Sexual harassment is also considered as discriminatory as it causes emotional, physical and psychological trauma and, therefore, has types identified as physical as well as verbal and visual abuse that can have differential consequences.

Ontario Human Rights Code 2012 amended the term gender identity to include ‘gender expression,’ which meant that everyone has a right to freely express their ways of acting, looking or dressing that could affect or enable others to perceive their gender. Furthermore, OHSA amended Bill 132 on September 8, 2016, which included sexual harassment as a form of workplace harassment and outlined policies for employers to take sexual harassment much more seriously.

During sexual harassment week, it becomes even more important to raise awareness of sexual harassment at work or home. Sexual Harassment Awareness Week (June 1–7), which occurs every year, was introduced to promote awareness and ensure a harassment-free work environment. This means reporting all incidents of sexual harassment and taking immediate action to stop them. It also means holding accountability and responsibility to bring attention to all incidents of sexual harassment occurring anywhere around.

To find out more about how to prevent or address sexual and gender-based harassment, please see the following:

• Ontario Human Rights Commission Know Your Rights brochure
• Bill 132: Ontario’s Sexual Violence and Harassment Legislation (Canadian Occupational Health & Safety Law)

Dr. Shushmita Gupta is a Provincial Status of Women Committee Member