Harassment

What is Harassment?

Harassment is any unwelcome behaviour that offends, humiliates or intimidates any person or causes alarm or distress. It includes but is not limited to physical conduct, sexual misconduct and violence, assault, verbal or non-verbal malice, coercion and stalking. Harassment could in some cases relate to a person’s gender, race, ethnic or national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, religion or belief, age, disability or any other personal characteristic.

It is the impact of the behaviour rather than the intent of the perpetrator that determines whether harassment has occurred.

Examples of unacceptable behaviour include (but are not limited to):

• Physical Contact: Ranging from unwanted touching to serious assault, gestures, intimidation and aggressive behaviour.
• Verbal or Written (including online and on social media): Unwelcome remarks, suggestions and propositions, malicious gossip, jokes and banter, offensive language, threats, name calling, cyber bullying.
• Non-verbal: Offensive literature or pictures, graffiti and computer imagery, isolation or non-cooperation and exclusion or isolation from social activities.