What is sexual harassment?

Sexual harassment refers to unwanted remarks, gestures, or actions of a sexual nature that make the victim feel humiliated, threatened, or uncomfortable. This can involve verbal or non-verbal behaviour as well as physical contact. Unfortunately, sexual harassment and sexually inappropriate behaviour often occur in the workplace. This can happen between colleagues, but also between employers and employees and between employees and their customers.

Recent research reported by de Volkskrant shows that 134,000 people experience sexual harassment at work every year. More than 20% of these are women between the ages of 15 and 25. The actual number may be even higher, because it is often difficult for victims to speak about their experiences.

The consequences of sexual harassment at work can be very serious for the victim. It can cause a great deal of stress and anxiety, and it often leads to feelings of shame or guilt. Sometimes perpetrators make victims feel as if they were the reason for the sexual behaviour. If someone crosses your boundaries, it is never your fault. Sexual harassment is punishable by law and should never occur. The perpetrator must respect your boundaries.