Sexual Harassment - Guidelines for Complainants

Sexual harassment is unlawful.  Ignoring sexual harassment does not make it go away, but may make it worse because the harasser may misinterpret no response as approval of the behaviour.  There are a number of things you can do to address the issue:

• Try to sort it out, where practicable, with the person or people involved.  Speak up at the time.  Tell the harasser that his/her behaviour is unwelcome and should be stopped immediately.
• Keep a written record of the incidents, including the dates, time, location, witnesses (if any) and nature (what the harasser has said or done) and your own response.
• Tell someone you trust or a counsellor, and ask for emotional support and advice.
• Seek advice and assistance from the designated officers of the Panel Against Discrimination and Sexual Harassment.  The current designated officers are:

You are encouraged to come forward with complaints as soon as possible after the alleged incidents as a lapse in time may, in certain circumstances, present difficulties for the University in conducting a thorough investigation and establishing the facts of the case.