PETALING JAYA: Winking, wolf-whistling and even petting somebody on the top represent sexual harassment, in accordance with a round issued by the Bar Council final week.
Such acts, together with inappropriate feedback on one’s look – derogatory or in any other case – are among the examples listed within the round aimed toward curbing sexual harassment among the authorized fraternity.
Gestures, together with these suggestive in nature, or bodily contact that makes one uncomfortable, even if achieved in jest, are additionally deemed inappropriate.
And whereas the Bar didn’t present any motive for issuing the round, it is understood to have been prompted by a couple of circumstances lately.
Meanwhile, threatening or intimidating a colleague for refusing advances can be thought of sexual coercion, the Bar stated.
“This might embrace specific or implicit threats of adverse penalties, corresponding to job loss, demotion or injury to at least one ’s skilled popularity, in the event that they reject inappropriate requests,” the round learn.
The Bar Council went on to advise victims to submit complaints of such incidents via its Peer Support Network, which was launched two years in the past, and warranted complainants of confidentiality.
When contacted, the Selangor consultant within the Bar Council, V Kokila Vaani, stated there have been a few complaints of sexual harassment within the authorized career of late, however many of the victims resorted to lodging police studies and initiating civil fits in a bid to resolve them.
“My view is that even a single case within the authorized career is thought of one too many as lawyers are there to guard the individuals and never harass them.
“So, it’s good for the Bar Council to specify the acts which are thought of as sexual harassment, and the reminder round issued lately is well timed,” the previous Selangor Bar chief informed eNM.
Two years in the past, the Bar Council authorized a clause in its guidelines which states that sexual harassment constituted misconduct beneath Section 94(3) of the Legal Profession Act.
It states that any act of sexual harassment by an advocate and solicitor or a pupil in a skilled capability or in a skilled setting quantities to misconduct.
