We have begun a pilot of a three year project to address sexual harassment in the workplace in community organisations.

We have partnered with the Board of Deputies and the Jewish Leadership Council to design and deliver a campaign across all UK-based Jewish organisations. The project will address the culture within each organisation, and specifically ensure that the Jewish community sets high standards in the community and is not tolerant of sexual harassment in the workplace. We're delighted to be working with DOHR who are supporting the project with their Human Resources expertise.

If you would like to discuss how we can support your organisation, or if you are interested in contributing to the project with your time or with financial support please contact the project manager.

In order to ensure sexual harassment is no longer tolerated in the Jewish community, we need your support to reach all the organisations across the UK. We are grateful for a grant from Rosa and the Justice and Equality Fund Advice and Support programme, for supporting this project.

               

WHAT IS SEXUAL HARASSMENT?

Sexual harassment is a form of unlawful discrimination under the Equality Act 2010, and is any sexual behaviour that is unwanted, offensive, and that makes someone feel uncomfortable, intimidated, humiliated or scared. It can include:

  • sexual comments or jokes;
  • physical behaviour, including unwelcome sexual advances, touching and various forms of sexual assault;
  • displaying pictures, photos or drawings of a sexual nature;
  • sending emails with sexual content.

Sexual harassment can happen to anyone at any time, in any place. This includes the workplace. The huge range of possible behaviours can make it difficult to pin down, but the most important thing is how it makes someone feel. If the behaviour is sexual in nature, unwelcome and makes someone feel offended or threatened, it is wrong.

Two women's stories of sexual harassment in Jewish organisationsWOMEN'S STORIES

Useful links:

BeKavod, a similar project running in New York.

Sexual Harassment in the workplace 2017, BBC. A survey of UK adults, on behalf of the BBC, around attitudes towards sexual harassment in the workplace.

Still Just a Bit of Banter? Report by Everyday Sexism Project & the Trades Union Congress (TUC) 2016. The report shows that 52% of the 1500 women surveyed had experienced unwanted sexual behaviour at work. For women aged 16-24, this rises to 63%.

Actor David Schwimmer ('Friends') has co-created a series of short films, each one showing sexual harassment. Watch him and his co-creator speaking about the project.

Ask an activist: What are the most important lessons learned on sexual harassment in this last year? From UN Women, December 2018

I'd Just Like To Be Free short film by Imkaan & EVAW UK, with young women speaking about sexual harassment, January 2019

Is This Sexual Harassment? short film by BBC Three. Fascinating to see the men and women discussing it afterwards.