Background to the enactment of the law:
A law to prevent sexual harassment in Israel was enacted in 1998 and is an important chapter in the fight for equality and human dignity. Background to the enactment of the law indicates a change in social and legal consciousness towards the issue of sexual harassment.
In the years preceding the legislation, many cases of sexual harassment in workplaces and public institutions were published, which led to a social demand to regulate the issue with comprehensive and binding legislation.
The meaning of the law for victims:
The law is designed to protect individual rights and ensure a work and living environment free from sexual harassment. It allows victims to receive legal protection and support, and includes broad definitions of what constitutes sexual harassment, including looks, words, contact or other actions intended to belittle or humiliate. This, in order to create a broader mechanism of protection for the victims.
ways of action:
The law offers several ways to prevent sexual harassment and to deal with cases where it occurs:
- Filing a complaint: Victims can file a complaint with the police.
- Contacting the supervisor: Every workplace must appoint a sexual harassment prevention supervisor to whom employees can contact.
- Reporting to legal order: The law requires reporting of sexual harassment to the appropriate authorities.
The compensation amounts:
The law states that victims of sexual harassment are entitled to compensation, which can reach particularly high amounts in cases of repeated harassment or where preventive measures were not taken by the employer. The compensation is provided in addition to any criminal action that may be taken against the harasser.
Key insights as a result of the enactment of the law:
- Improving the personal safety and self-esteem of workers, especially women, in workplaces.
- Expanding the definition of sexual harassment raises more awareness of actions that were previously not considered as such.
- An increase in the number of complaints registered with the police, which indicates an increase in courage to report and deal with the problem.
- The law strengthens awareness of individual rights and the need for a legal and social system that supports and protects each and every one.
The law to prevent sexual harassment is an important step in the fight for a just and equal society, and it continues to have a positive impact on the lives of many in Israel