SEXUAL_HARASSMENT_IN_SCHOOL_INVOLVING_YOUTH.rtf

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Malayan Law Journal Articles/2008/Volume 1/SEXUAL HARASSME! " S#H$$L "V$LV"% &$U!H'EX!E! $( LE%AL )R$!E#!"$*

[2008] 1 MLJ xc

Malayan Law Journal Articles

2008

SEXUAL HARASSME! " S#H$$L "%$L%"& '$U!H( EX!E! $)LE&AL *R$!E#!"$+

Ashgar Ali Ali Mohamed

LLB (Hons); MCL (IIUM); LLM (Hons) (NZ); PhD (Business Law) Advoa!e and "olii!or

#u!raging !he modes!$ o% olleagues or using o&sene language' sugges!ive remars and unwan!ed h$sial on!a!' among o!hers' is imroer' un&eoming and !o!all$ unae!a&le as i! is deroga!or$ !o !hes!andards o% &ehaviour e*e!ed in our soie!$+ ,ven a single iniden! o% unae!a&le &ehaviour is su%%iien! !o ons!i!u!e a de!rimen!+ In shools' se*ual harassmen! ma$ arise &e!ween !he !eahing and !headminis!ra!or !hrough eer rela!ionshi or ower rela!ionshi+ I! an also arise &e!ween !eahers and !hes!uden!s or &e!ween s!uden!s !hemselves+ In a se*ual harassmen! senario' !here are !wo ar!ies involved'namel$' !he vi!im and !he ere!ra!or+ I! is di%%iul! !o de%ine se*ual harassmen! in !erms o% sei%i a!s or&ehaviour &eause iniden!s o% se*ual harassmen! are di%%iul! !o measure+ -enerall$' one has !o loo a! !heon!e*! and !he surrounding irums!anes and !his would inlude !he vi!ims. u&ringing' ul!ure andreligious sensi!ivi!ies' among o!hers+ /ha! is emhasised here is !ha! !he ondu! o% !he ere!ra!or mus! &eo%%ensive+ I% !wo ar!ies have a good !ime e*hanging se*ual 0oes' i! would no! &e onsidered as se*ualharassmen!+ However' i% one erson ees !elling ano!her se*ual 0oes and !he la!!er %inds i! o%%ensive' i!would ons!i!u!e se*ual harassmen!+ I% !he vi!im lodges a olie reor!' inves!iga!ion ma$ &e arried ou! and

i% !he allega!ion is es!a&lished' !he ere!ra!or ma$ &e harged in our! under !he Penal Code' deending on!he gravi!$ o% !he o%%ene+ Having said !ha!' !he %ous o% !his aer is !ha! !he $oung mus! now when !he$are &eing se*uall$ harassed ei!her &$ !heir eers' !eahers or o!hers' during or a%!er shool hours and

ro&a&l$ even in !heir own homes+ 1he disussion will inlude !he avenue !o see %or hel and !he availa&le ro!e!ion under !he law+ In a nu!shell' !his aer will

2 ML3 * a! *i disuss !he irums!anes !ha! ma$ give rise !o se*ual harassmen!' !he riminal law regula!ing se*ualharassmen! and !he mode o% roving se*ual harassmen!' among o!hers+

41he wri!er e*resses his sinere areia!ion !o !he 5esearh Managemen! Cen!re' In!erna!ional IslamiUniversi!$ Mala$sia (IIUM) %or !he researh gran!' whih made !he researh ossi&le %or i!s omle!ion+

"ntro,uction

$ne in 10 re+orte, ra+e cases were committe, -y sc.ool-oys -elow 181

(or eam+le out o t.e 1833 ra+ecases re+orte, rom January to Se+tem-er 2004 214 oen,ers were -elow t.e a5e o 18 &oun5 oen,ers6iewe, 5irls as o-7ects an, .a, no ualms usin5 5irls in any way t.ey wante, wit.out 5i6in5 any t.ou5.t tot.eir actions an, t.is is +artly attri-ute, to +orno5ra+.y an, ot.er me,ia t.at are easily assessa-le on t.enet $ten re+orte, in t.e me,ia are crimes in6ol6in5 yout.s w.ic. .a6e -een increasin5 in ,ismayin5+ro+ortions (or eam+le New "!rai!s 1imes Mon,ay 11 9ecem-er 2004 :13;year;ol, 5an5; ra+e,: -y ayout. s.e .a, -erien,e, an, 10 o .is rien,s A5ain New "unda$ 1imes < Au5ust 200= t.e .ea,linerea,s' :12;year;ol, amon5 si ra+e sus+ects: Li>ewise 1he "!ar !.urs,ay 10 May 200=' :&out. 7aile, nineyears or ra+in5 1?;year;ol,: A5ain !.e Star !.urs,ay @ Au5ust 200=' :$6er ?00 minors stuc> in 7ails:

A5ain 1he "!ar 3 Se+tem-er 200= re+orte,' :Alarmin5 rise in teena5e smo>ers ;; Some are also .a6in5 se


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as early as a5e 10 in Sa-a.: "n $cto-er 2004 a (orm (our stu,ent was arreste, or alle5e,ly ra+in5 a 1@;year;ol, cy-ercae wor>er at a .ouse in %om-a>

!.e +rime news .ea,line .as also re+orte, :(rom truancy to ra+e 7u6eniles -e.a6in5 -a,ly2: "t wasre+orte, t.at stu,ents .a6e 5ra,uate, rom -ullyin5 to ra+e motorcycle t.et an, ro--ery Ju6eniles are-ecomin5 -ra6er an, more -raen as t.ey .a6e starte, committin5 more serious crimes suc. as ra+in5

classmates an, 5irl rien,s "n 2004 33+lace "t is urt.er inten,e, to e,ucate an, create awareness t.ere-y ensurin5 a wor>in5en6ironment ree rom t.e ,an5ers o seual .arassment a+art rom settin5 a6enues or 6ictims to lo,5ecom+laints to t.eir mana5ement

At t.e outset t.e writer woul, li>e to +oint out t.at t.e ran5e o seual .arassment re+orte, wit.in a sc.oolsettin5 is alarmin5 !.e eam+les o t.e seual .arassment con,ucts inclu,es seual comments 7o>es5estures or loo>sD touc.in5 5ra--in5 or +inc.in5 in a seual wayD ma>in5 seual rumours s+rea, a-outanot.erD intentionally -rus.in5 u+ a5ainst anot.er in a seual wayD -loc>in5 anot.er in a seual wayDs.owin5 5i6in5 or lea6in5 seual +ictures +.oto5ra+.s illustrations messa5es or notesD t.e clot.in5 o t.e6ictim +ulle, o or ,own in a seual wayD orcin5 t.e 6ictim to >iss someoneD .a, seual messa5es writtena-out anot.er on +u-lic wallsD orce, to ,o somet.in5 seual ot.er t.an >issin5D s+ie, on w.ile ,ressin5 ors.owerin5 to mentione, -ut a ew (urt.er more 5irls are re+orte, to .a6e e+erience, seual .arassmentas com+are, to -oys an, it ,oes im+acts t.eir sc.ool +erormance suc. as ,iiculty o concentratin5 in t.eir stu,ies ear an, lower sel;esteem amon5 ot.ers


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#on,uct constitutin sexual arass-ent

Seual .arassment usually occurs -etween +eo+le o t.e o++osite se Howe6er it can also ta>e +lace-etween t.e same sees alt.ou5. t.e latter is a rare occurrence "t may arise t.rou5. +eer relations.i+ or+ower relations.i+ an, t.ere are two +arties in6ol6e, namely t.e 6ictim an, t.e +er+etrator ormally it is,one -y a +erson in a su+erior +osition or eam+le a senior male stu,ent .arassin5 a emale 7unior or 6ice6ersa

$ne can ma>e seual a,6ancements as a +rereuisite o 5ettin5 somet.in5 an, t.e +erormance o t.eseual acts may eit.er -e in a +ositi6e or ne5ati6e orm (or eam+le :slee+ wit. me an, youll 5et t.e+romotion 5ra,es or letters o recommen,ations amon5 ot.ers: or it can also arise in t.e ne5ati6e orm:slee+ wit. me or your wron5,oin5 will -e e+ose,: Seual .arassment can also arise wit.out a ,eman, oran ec.an5e o se or a -eneit (or eam+le

2 ML3 * a! *iv w.ere a +erson ,oes or says t.in5s t.at ma>e t.e 6ictim eel uncomorta-le suc. as comments o a seualnature/seually e+licit statements seual 7o>es or anec,otes s.owin5 o-scene +ictures touc.in5 leerin5unwante, reuests or a ,ate amon5 ot.ers As note, earlier t.e latter is a common recurrence in sc.oolssettin5s in6ol6in5 yout.s

"t is im+ossi-le to ,eine seual .arassment in terms o a s+eciic act or -e.a6iour -ecause inci,ents oseual .arassment are ,iicult to measure %enerally one .as to loo> at t.e contet t.e surroun,in5circumstances t.at inclu,e t.e 6ictims: u+-rin5in5 culture an, reli5ious sensiti6ities amon5 ot.ers F.at isem+.asise, .ere is t.at t.e con,uct o t.e +er+etrator must -e oensi6e " two +ersons .a6e a 5oo, timeec.an5in5 seual 7o>es it woul, not -e consi,ere, seual .arassment Howe6er i one +erson >ee+stellin5 anot.er seual 7o>es an, t.e latter in,s it oensi6e it woul, constitute seual .arassment

(urt.er t.e con,uct must -e unwelcome ie it was not solicite, or in6ite, -y t.e 6ictim w.o re5ar,e, t.econ,uct as un,esira-le or oensi6e !.e 6ictim is not reuire, to conront t.e .arasser in or,er to esta-lis.t.e -e.a6iour to -e unwelcome F.et.er or not t.e -e.a6iour to -e unwelcome is ,etermine, -y reerenceto t.e surroun,in5 circumstances or eam+le t.e 6ictim .a, -een a,6ersely aecte, an, .a, ma,e+re6ious com+laints a-out t.e same con,uct amon5 ot.ers Seual .arassment .owe6er ,oes not inclu,e6er-al e+ressions or written material t.at is rele6ant an, a++ro+riately relate, to course su-7ect matter orcurriculum

)or-s o/ sexual arass-ent

Seual .arassment in6ol6in5 yout.s in sc.ool can ta>e many orms Some orms o seual .arassment can-e annoyin5 or irritatin5 w.ile ot.ers can actually amount to seual assault Seual .arassment may -e-roa,ly cate5orise, into si +ossi-le orms namely'

1i) :er&al harassmen! Ma>in5 seually su55esti6e comments suc. as 7o>es 7estin5 >i,,in5soun,s an, uestionin5 (or eam+le su-7ectin5 a emale stu,ent to seually su55esti6ecomments

1ii) Nonetc.es or

2 ML3 * a! *v writin5 se;-ase, letters !.e mo,e o sen,in5 t.e +rinte, material may inclu,e ain5 s.ortmessa5e ser6ice BSMSC multime,ia messa5e ser6ice BMMSC an, electronic mail Be;mailCamon5 ot.ers

1iv) :isual harassmen! !.is coul, -e somet.in5 w.ic. is not ,irecte, to any +articular +erson -utw.ic. ne6ert.eless creates a .ostile or .umiliatin5 en6ironment or ot.ers to -e or eam+le,is+layin5 o-scene +ictures !.is .a, t.e +otential eect o ,e5ra,in5 or oen,in5 a emalestu,ent


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1v) Ps$hologial harassmen! An eam+le woul, -e re+eate, unwante, social in6itationsDrelentless +ro+osals or ,ates or +.ysical intimacy An eam+le woul, -e in6itin5 t.e emalestu,ent to s+en, t.e ni5.t to5et.er

1vi) Ph$sial harassmen! !.is may inclu,e unwante, +.ysical contact or eam+le ina++ro+riatetouc.in5 +attin5 +inc.in5 stro>in5 -rus.in5 u+ a5ainst t.e -o,y .u55in5 >issin5 an,

on,lin5 amon5 ot.ers A clear eam+le woul, -e +.ysically molestin5 a emale stu,ent -y+ullin5 .er .an, an, ina++ro+riately touc.in5 +arts o .er -o,y

Sexual arass-ent( A iolation o/ in,ii,ual rits

!.e Uni6ersal 9eclaration o Human Ri5.ts 1@?8 +ro6i,es in!er alia :F.ereas reco5nition o t.e in.erent,i5nity an, o t.e eual an, inaliena-le ri5.ts o all mem-ers o t.e .uman amily is t.e oun,ation oree,om 7ustice an, +eace in t.e worl,: "t reers to t.e -asic +rinci+les o lie an, ensurin5 a minimumstan,ar, o ,i5nity o a +erson ;; w.ic. is s+iritual an, material as well S+iritual ,i5nity or eam+le meanst.at no one s.oul, -e treate, li>e animals or -e ensla6e, w.ile material ,i5nity in,icates a certain stan,ar,o li6in5 suc. as +ro+er .ousin5 !.e ormer woul, inclu,e an ina++ro+riate con,uct o -elittlin5 a +erson:s,i5nity an, .onour suc. as t.e act o seual .arassment

(urt.er t.e (e,eral #onstitution o Malaysia ;; a .i5.est :+ositi6e law: ;; a5ain stresses on t.e im+ortance o

+reser6ation o :lie: w.ic. is re5ar,e, as a +riceless +ossession w.ic. cannot -e ma,e a moc>ery Articlee u+ t.e crimeDan, BiiiC t.e maturity res+onsi-ility an, accounta-ility o t.e oen,er Balso reerre, to as t.e mental elementor mens rea o t.e crimeC !.us a crime is consi,ere, com+lete, w.en t.e reuirement o t.e lawconcernin5 a!us reus and mens rea has &een sa!is%ied+ 1he ma*im here is a!us non %ai! reum' nisi menssi! rea t.at e+lains t.e +rinci+le t.at :an act ,oes not ma>e a +erson 5uilty o a crime unless .is min, -e

also 5uilty: F.ere t.e reuirement o t.e law concernin5 actus reus an, mens rea .as -een satisie, t.eaccuse, is 5uilty o t.e oence Howe6er i t.e ,istinct in5re,ients o t.e oence an, t.e intention o t.ecommission or omission cannot -e s.own no crime woul, .a6e -een committe, an, t.e accuse, woul, -eentitle, to an acuittal

!.e +unis.ment or t.e commission o a crime must relect t.e seriousness o t.e oence committe, -y t.eaccuse, -ot. in +u-lic interest an, t.e interest o t.e accuse, an, t.e sentence im+ose, ou5.t to act as,eterrence to t.e oen,er to steer clear rom

2 ML3 * a! *vii committin5 a similar oence in t.e uture (urt.er t.e sentence +asse, must ser6e as a +lain warnin5 toot.ers t.at in t.is country t.e se6erest +ossi-le +enalty awaits any +erson w.o .as no res+ect or t.e .onour


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an, ,i5nity o anot.er "n assessin5 an a++ro+riate sentence +u-lic interest must su+erse,e ot.erconsi,erations !.e +u-lic woul, lose coni,ence in t.e courts i a lenient sentence is mete, out or a seriousoence suc. as seual .arassment4.

"n ?assim &in U!us v Pu&li Proseu!or = 9a6i, Fon5 9a> Fa. J# state,' :!.e crimes committe, -y t.ea++ellant in6ol6e, seual molestation o 5irls w.o were youn5 an, 6ulnera-le $ne o t.e 6ictims was $L&si years an, nine mont.s ol, !.e 5ra6ity o .is oences was o a 6ery .i5. or,er !.e circumstances o t.eoences were ,e+lora-le !.ey were ,emeanin5 an, ,e5ra,in5 o t.e c.il,ren in6ol6e, an, li>ely to .a6e ana,6erse eect on t.em or t.e rest o t.eir li6es an, also on t.eir +arents !.eir ri5.ts an, interests must -eta>en into account )u-lic interest ,eman,s t.at +eo+le w.o commit seual oences on t.e youn5 an,innocent must -e ,ealt wit. se6erely an, sentences mete, out must relect t.e society:s ,is,ain or suc.crimes: A5ain in ?urhang "ingh /edhawa "ingh v Pu&li Proseu!or 8 Ma.a,e6 S.an>ar J state,' :t.eway t.in5s are 5oin5 we cannot aor, to -e la #urrent tren,s in,icate a nee, to ta>e a .ars.er 6iew oseual oences w.ere criminal orce .as -een use,:

"n Bohari Ami! v Pu&li Proseu!or @ 9a6i, Fon5 9a> Fa. J# note, t.at' :t.ere cannot -e any ,ou-t inanyones min, t.at an oence un,er s 3


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,is.onour ,enotes an intention to ,ero5ate one:s ,i5nity an, re+utation or eam+le unnecessary touc.in5stro>in5 +attin5 or +inc.in5 or -rus.in5 a5ainst anot.er +erson:s -o,y 5ra--in5 >issin5 sen,in5 o-scenematerial -y mail SMS MMS or nuisance +.one calls amon5 ot.ers may well all wit.in t.e +ur6iew o t.ea-o6e section

(urt.er s 3=< o t.e )enal #o,e is relate, to t.e oence o ra+e !.e oence o ra+e is sai, to -e committe,

-y a man w.en .e .as seual intercourse wit. a woman un,er any one o t.e ollowin5 circumstancesnamely a5ainst .er will wit.out .er consent wit. consent o-taine, un,er ear o ,eat. or o .urt wit.consent -ut 5i6en -y reason o unsoun,ness o min, or un,er inluence o intoication a 5irl un,er siteenwit. or wit.out .er consent !o a-sol6e a +erson rom criminal lia-ility consent must -e 5i6en reely wit.outany ear o in7ury or un,er misconce+tion o act Howe6er seual intercourse wit. a 5irl un,er t.e a5e ositeen s.all -e construe, as ra+e irres+ecti6e o w.et.er s.e consente, to t.e act or not

A+art rom t.e a-o6e s in5 some soun, or 5esture or e.i-itin5 any o-7ect so as to -e .ear, or seen -y suc. +ersonor -y intru,in5 u+on t.e +ri6acy o suc. +erson

(inally s


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A +erson s.all -e criminally res+onsi-ility or t.e wron5 committe, Howe6er t.e a5e o criminalres+onsi-ility is -etween t.e a5es o 10 to 12 Section 82 o t.e )enal #o,e +ro6i,es' ot.in5 is an oencew.ic. is ,one -y a c.il, un,er ten years o a5e Section 83 urt.er +ro6i,es' No!hing is an o%%ene whih isdone &$ a hild a&ove !en $ears

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o% age and under !welve' who has no! a!!ained su%%iien! ma!uri!$ o% unders!anding !o 0udge !he na!ure andonse@uene o% his ondu! on !ha! oasion (urt.er s 113 o t.e E6i,ence Act 1@


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As rom t.e a-o6e t.e +riority must -e re.a-ilitation an, it .as to -e in t.e -est interests o t.e c.il, A c.il,-elow 1? cannot -e im+risone, or any oence e6en i t.ey are una-le to +ay a ine com+ensation or costsor,ere, -y t.e :#ourt (or #.il,ren: !.ose a-o6e 1? can only -e sent to +rison i t.ey cannot -e :suita-ly,ealt wit.: in any ot.er way ;; inclu,in5 +ro-ation ine or ,etention in an a++ro6e, sc.ool or ot.erinstitutions

"n Pu&li Proseu!or v Mohd 1urmi$ &in Mahdir > Anor 1


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wort. loo>in5 at "n t.e a-o6e case t.e claimant consi,ere, .ersel constructi6ely ,ismisse, ollowin5 twoinci,ents o seual .arassment !.e "n,ustrial #ourt .el, in a6our o t.e claimant an, accor,in5ly awar,e,a++ro+riate reme,y or ,ismissal wit.out 7ust cause or ecuse

$n a 7u,icial re6iew a++lication t.e Hi5. #ourt uas.e, t.e "n,ustrial #ourt:s awar, on t.e 5roun, t.at t.eclaimants e6i,ence o t.e alle5ations was not a,euately corro-orate, !.is was -ecause t.e cre,i-ility o

t.e testimony o t.e claimant .a, -een +ro6en to -e seriously unrelia-le ,ue to t.e +resence oinconsistencies an, contra,ictions in .er e6i,ence or t.e ollowin5 reasonsD irstly t.e claimant ,i, not lo,5eany +olice re+ort a5ainst t.e acts o seual .arassment Secon,ly s.e ,i, not inorm .er .us-an, a-out t.is

2 ML3 * a! v inci,ent until ater .er letter o resi5nation Her reason or not imme,iately inormin5 t.e .us-an, was t.ats.e was arai, t.at .e mi5.t ,o somet.in5 out o an5er

!.e Hi5. #ourt state, t.at :normally ace, wit. suc. inci,ent one woul, at irst o++ortunity communicatewit. one:s .us-an, eit.er +ersonally or t.rou5. +.one an, woul, also lo,5e a +olice re+ort !.ese are actsconsistent wit. trut. ot inormin5 one:s .us-an, or ailure to inorm t.e actual inci,ent to .im are actsw.ic. can 5i6e rise to a lot o sus+icion1@: !.ir,ly t.ere was serious inconsistency in .er e6i,ence F.en t.eclaimant was cross;eamine, as to .er w.erea-outs on t.e ni5.t o t.e secon, inci,ent s.e tol, t.e courtt.at s.e was at .ome t.e w.ole ni5.t an, ,enie, +artyin5 away at t.e Min5 #ourt Hotel Howe6er s.ee6entually .a, to a,mit .a6in5 5one out an, -ein5 at t.e 6icinity o t.e Hotel car +ar> on t.e ni5.t inuestion w.en t.e counsel or t.e a++licant +ro,uce, a +olice re+ort lo,5e, -y .er on t.e ni5.t in uestionre5ar,in5 a i5.t -etween .er -rot.er an, a 5rou+ o men rom t.e Min5 #ourt Hotel All t.is in t.e 6iew ot.e #ourt automatically tri55ere, o t.e nee, to .a6e .er e6i,ence corro-orate,

"s relation to t.e e6i,ence o a c.il, o ten,er a5e s 133A o E6i,ence Act +ro6i,es t.at any c.il, o ten,eryears calle, as a witness ,oes not in t.e o+inion o t.e court un,erstan, t.e nature o an oat. .is e6i,encemay -e recei6e, t.ou5. not 5i6en on oat. i in t.e o+inion o t.e court .e +ossesse, suicient intelli5enceto 7ustiy t.e rece+tion o t.e e6i,ence an, un,erstan,s t.e ,uty o s+ea>in5 t.e trut. )ro6i,e, t.at w.eree6i,ence a,mitte, -y 6irtue o t.is section is 5i6en on -e.al o t.e +rosecution t.e accuse, s.all not -elia-le to -e con6icte, o t.e oence unless t.at e6i,ence is corro-orate, -y some ot.er material e6i,ence insu++ort t.ereo im+licatin5 .im "n Lim 1eng Leng v Pu&li Proseu!or 20 it was state, t.at w.ere t.ee6i,ence o t.e c.il, witness is recei6e, u+on oat. as in t.is case t.ere is no rule o law ,eman,in5 t.atsuc. e6i,ence s.oul, -e corro-orate, Howe6er as a matter o +ru,ence t.e court is min,ul o t.e ,an5er

o acce+tin5 e6i,ence o a c.il, o ten,er a5e wit.out corro-oration As rom t.e a-o6e an, wit. reerence to Lilian 1herera De Cos!aEs case it is note, t.at t.e core issuein6ol6in5 seual .arassment is +ro6in5 t.e alle5ation E+osin5 t.e a55ressors wron5,oin5 may ine6ita-lye+ose some ,e5ree o un+leasantness to t.e 6ictim rom t.e +er+etrator:s collea5ues or rien,s "t woul, -e

2 ML3 * a! vi worse or t.e 6ictim i t.e +er+etrator turns t.e situation aroun, e t.at as it may t.e court woul, normallyloo> or a,,itional e6i,ence o rele6ant circumstances w.ic. may ren,er it +ro-a-le t.at t.e alle5ations ot.e com+lainant was true an, t.at it was reasona-ly sae to act u+on it

!o ma>e t.e case on seual .arassment more con6incin5 6arious actors woul, .a6e to -e consi,ere, oream+le w.et.er t.e 6ictim ma,e a +olice re+ort or lo,5e, a com+laint wit. t.e ,isci+linary teac.er 5ettin5eye witnesses o t.e 6ictims reaction ri5.t ater t.e inci,ent imme,iately relatin5 t.e e+erience 6er-ally orin writin5 to more t.an one +erson amon5 ot.ers on a case to case -asis Howe6er >ee+in5 uiet an,actin5 normally may sometimes -e construe, as consentin5 to t.e a,6ances ma,e -y t.e seual .arasser"n reality .owe6er many seual .arassment cases are ne6er re+orte, -ecause o t.e em-arrassment an,ear o ill treatment An, urt.er +ro6in5 seual .arassment coul, -e ,iicult 5i6en t.e act t.at it reuentlyoccurs wit.out witnesses "n most circumstances t.e e6i,ence o t.e 6ictim will only -e circumstantial "n,ealin5 wit. circumstantial e6i,ence t.e court must -e satisie, t.at t.e e6i,ence w.en consi,ere,to5et.er +oints only to t.e 5uilt o t.e accuse, +erson an, it must not -e ca+a-le o any ot.er meanin521.

Mecanis- in scool to 4reent an, era,icate sexual arass-ent

Sc.ool a,ministrators teac.ers an, stu,ents must -e a-le to wor> to5et.er in an atmos+.ere ree rom allorms o .arassment intimi,ation or e+loitation !.e aut.ority concern must ta>e necessary ste+s to


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+re6ent sto+ correct or ,isci+line -e.a6iour t.at 6iolates in,i6i,ual ,i5nity an, .onour 9isci+linary actionmay -e in t.e orm o oral or written warnin5 transer sus+ension or e6en ,ismissal rom sc.ool

"t is su-mitte, t.at all sc.ools must esta-lis. a seual .arassment +olicy +ro.i-itin5 seual .arassment Allsc.ools s.oul, intro,uce a statement w.ic. s.oul, +ro6i,e a ,eclaration +ro.i-itin5 all orms o seual.arassment an, a caution statin5 t.at seual .arassment constitutes a serious wron5 an, will incur

,isci+linary actions !.e written +olicy must clearly con6ey t.at seual .arassment will not -e tolerate, in anyorm an, must -e ma,e a6aila-le to all stu,ents )erio,ical notices must -e sent to t.em a-out t.e sc.ools+olicy a5ainst seual .arassment

2 ML3 * a! vii

Stu,ents must -e encoura5e, to re+ort inci,ents o seual .arassment A +ro+er c.annel to re+ort acts oseual .arassment must -e clearly state, All inci,ents or com+laints must -e res+on,e, or atten,e, to+rom+tly !.e com+laints must -e in6esti5ate, an, a ,ue inuiry or ,omestic inuiry may -e .el, ollowin5a++ro+riate action

ein5 sensiti6e an, +ersonal in nature t.e su55este, com+laint +roce,ure a-o6e s.oul, -e 6ery ,iscreetan, s.oul, +ro6i,e measures to +rotect 6ictims rom urt.er em-arrassment in t.e course o re+ortin5 an,in6esti5ation into t.e com+laint !.e sc.ool must ta>e reasona-le ste+s to ensure coni,entiality (urt.er t.e6ictim o .arassment s.oul, -e +ro6i,e, i reueste, in;.ouse +syc.olo5ical counsellin5

"t is also su55este, t.at lessons s.oul, -e con,ucte, in sc.ools so as to increase t.e c.il,ren:s >nowle,5eo w.at constitutes seual .arassment an, urt.er to .el+ t.em un,erstan, t.e -roa, sco+e o -e.a6iourt.at all wit.in t.is orm o 6iolence Last -ut not least teac.ers must .ei5.ten t.eir awareness o seual.arassment an, .ow to res+on, to t.e +ro-lem

#onclusion

$utra5in5 mo,esty o anot.er or usin5 o-scene lan5ua5e su55esti6e remar>s an, unwante, +.ysicalcontact is im+ro+er un-ecomin5 an, totally unacce+ta-le as it is ,ero5atory to t.e stan,ar,s o -e.a6iourE6en a sin5le inci,ent o t.e unacce+ta-le -e.a6iour is suicient to constitute a ,etriment Seual.arassment is a 6iolation o in,i6i,ual ri5.ts !.e eistin5 +ro6isions in t.e )enal #o,e is a+art romre5ulatin5 morality or +ersonal li6es o in,i6i,ual inten,e, to sae5uar, t.e sanctity o in,i6i,ual ri5.ts or+rotection a5ainst unwelcome unsolicite, or unwante, seual a,6ances an, t.ere-y ensurin5 t.eir +ri6acy

an, ,ecency !.ere are two im+ortant in5re,ients to esta-lis. seual .arassment irstly t.e con,uct must -eunwante, or unwelcome -y t.e reci+ient an, secon,ly t.e con,uct rom t.e reci+ient:s +oint o 6iew isoensi6e or t.reatenin5 !.e unwante, or unwelcome an, oensi6e seual con,uct is not acce+ta-le in anysociety

!.e sc.ool is -ut one settin5 in w.ic. seual .arassment occurs Seual .arassment is a +er6asi6e an,+ersistent orm o 6iolence e+erience, in t.e li6es o 5irls an, youn5 women ;; it is -ecomin5 a social,isease Amon5 t.e yout.s t.e seual .arassment may -e committe, a5ainst t.em eit.er -y a,ults or+eers alt.ou5. +eer .arassment is t.e most common occurrence in sc.ools "n t.e sc.ool settin5 we .a6e6ictims com+risin5 o yout.s an, +er+etrators w.o

2 ML3 * a! viii are yout.s as well Somet.in5 .as to -e ,one to sa6e +otential youn5 6ictims rom allin5 +rey to+er+etrators yout. an, a,ult ali>e Sc.ools +lay an im+ortant role in e,ucatin5 c.il,ren to reco5nise seual.arassment w.en t.ey see it an, re+ort it to a teac.er w.om t.ey +ercei6e as a carin5 an, un,erstan,in5

+erson )ro+er 5ui,elines s.oul, -e +ro6i,e, to +re6ent or ,eter seual .arassment an, urt.er +ro+er+roce,ures s.oul, -e intro,uce, or t.e settlement or +rosecution

2 ML3 * a! i*

1 Marc Lour,es #ne in 27 rais!s in &elow 2' "unda$ "!ar 10 9ecem-er 2004 + 4 BationalC !a-le' Ra+e cases rom 2000 to200


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2 Lee S.i;"an I 9a6i, &eow From !ruan$ !o rae' 0uveniles &ehaving &adl$' New "!rai!s 1imes' !.urs,ay ? January 200= +10

3 "-i,

? New Age ?ids' New "!rai!s 1imes Mon,ay 11 9ecem-er 2004 + 1

< 2000K 3 MLJ 281 + 2@? B#AC

4 (or t.e 5ui,in5 +rinci+le in ascertainin5 a++ro+riate sentence or t.e commission o a crime see Pu&li Proseu!or v 1oha &inM Gusu% > #rs 2004K ? MLJ 43 BH#CD Mohd Zandere &in Ari%%in v Pu&li Proseu!or 2004K < MLJ 48< BH#C

= 200


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SEXUAL_HARASSMENT_IN_SCHOOL_INVOLVING_YOUTH.rtf