The Standing Committee of the Shanghai Municipal People's Congress yesterday passed new legislation that seeks to provide women with a clearer avenue within which to sue their harassers. This landmark occasion is the country's first legal ruling giving a clear definition of sexual harassment.

 

The revised Shanghai Municipal Measures for Implementing the Law on Protection of Women's Rights sets down cases of sexual harassment as including verbal abuse, written text, pictures, text messaging and physical contact. Victims will now be able to lodge appropriate complaints to their employer, relevant government departments or directly to public security organs and take active measures to ensure the perpetrators are prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

 

"Employers must take steps to ensure a positive atmosphere for their female staff to be able to work without fear of sexual harassment," says the measure.

 

Shen Guoming, vice chairman of the Legal Affairs Committee of the Shanghai Municipal People's Congress, said the Law on Protection of Women's Rights, adopted back in 2005, was difficult to enforce given the absence of any clear definition of sexual harassment.

 

"I believe a clear definition of the forms of sexual harassment in local legislation will both complement and increase the effectiveness of the national law," said Shen.

 

(Xinhua News Agency, April 27, 2007)