Definitions

According to Spanish Law, sexual harassment is any form of verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature with the purpose or effect of violating the dignity of a person, in particular when creating an intimidating, degrading, or offensive environment. Spanish Equality Law (article 7.1)

Sexual Harassment is in no way acceptable in or outside of the workplace and is punishable by law with a prison sentence or fine of up to ten months. Iguality is committed to providing a safe and respectful work environment that promotes equality and prevents crimes and behaviours against sexual freedom and moral integrity, including sexual harassment and harassment based on sex. 

It is of vital importance to educate and raise awareness about sexual harassment in order to help respect the safety, dignity, and wellbeing of our volunteers, staff, interns, and program participants, as well as to help change the oppressive narrative and culture surrounding misogyny, patriarchy, and bodily autonomy. This sexual harassment policy applies to all employees, regardless of their employment contract, including individuals with discontinuous permanent contracts, fixed-term contracts, internship contracts, scholars, volunteers, and those providing services through any other type of contract.

Sexual Harassment Concerns

A sexual harassment concern is any worry or concern surrounding verbal or physical conduct with a sexual nature happening in the workplace that violates the dignity of a person and creates an unsafe, intimidating, degrading, or offensive working and living environment. A concern can be brought up because of something seen or heard, or information which has been received. It can be a one-time occurrence or it can be ongoing/recurring. This includes any concerns about the behaviour or treatment of staff, volunteers, or program participants. 

A concern may arise in several ways, for example:

• Someone’s behaviour gives cause for concern that either they are being sexually harassed or that they are sexually harassing others.
• Someone says they are being sexually harassed.
• Someone implies or hints that they are being sexually harassed. 
• Someone witnesses a person being sexually harassed.

Examples of sexual harassment in the workplace:

• Use and display of sexist, pornographic or provocative material in the workplace, including in the digital/online workspace.
• Comments, jokes, or pranks of sexual nature which are humiliating, degrading, disagreeable and/or offensive. These can be said aloud or over workplace messaging tools such as Slack or Whatsapp.
• Receiving deliberate comments of sexual nature about one’s physical appearance which are intimidating or humiliating.
• Gestures and looks which are intimidating and/or uneasy.
• Unwelcome and uncomfortable deliberate touching; Unnecessary caresses or physical contact.
• Cornering, excessive physical closeness, seeking any occasion to be alone with the victim.
• Repeated invitations to initiate a sexual relationship, despite expressed rejection.
• Clandestinely watching other people in private spaces such as toilets, changing rooms, etc.
• Insistence that the person participates in unwelcome conversations, pranks or jokes of sexual nature.
• Notes, emails, messages or letters of sexual nature which are offensive and intimidating.
• Insinuating improvements in job rank/position or any other incentive in exchange for sexual intercourse; any sort of sexual coercion.
• Use of threats of retaliation or punishment as a means of pressure for unwelcome dating or sexual encounters; sexual blackmailing; limiting job opportunities or growth for refusal to engage in activities of sexual nature.