What is sexual harassment and its impacts?

Girls should feel safe wherever they are. Yet girls and young woman around the world face sexual harassment and violence every day. This impacts their mental health, restricts their freedom and makes them feel scared and unsafe.

Every young person should learn about their bodies. They need to learn about healthy relationships, consent, and their choices. Their right to choose and refuse.

Comprehensive sex education equips young people with a toolbox for life. It equips them with knowledge, skills, attitudes and values for the future. These will help them achieve health, wellbeing, and dignity. They will build healthy relationships and learn to understand and defend their rights throughout their lives.

Definition of sexual harassment 

Sexual harassment is defined as unwanted behaviour that is sexual in nature and that makes someone feel scared, upset, humiliated or offended. It can be any sexual activity or act, from physical touching to public comments or online messages and texts.

The law on sexual harassment 

The laws in the UK that protect against sexual harassment include:

• The Equality Act (2010)
• The Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act (2023)
• The Protection from Sex-Based Harassment in Public Act (2023). Our Crime Not Compliment campaign played a key role in this legislation.
• The Online Safety Act (2023)

1. The law protects people from sexual harassment in many places. This includes schools, colleges, universities, workplaces, and public transport. If you face sexual harassment, report it to the proper authorities. For example, if it takes place at school it should be reported to the Head. If it takes place on public transport it should be reported to the police.

It’s important to note that the law states that it is the recipient who decides if the sexual behaviour is unwanted. Not the person doing the behavior.

Types of sexual harassment 

There are three types of sexual harassment: verbal, non-verbal and physical. Sexual harassment can take place in person and online.  

Verbal sexual harassment 

Verbal sexual harassment includes:

• Comments or jokes of a sexual nature
• Unwanted flirting
• Intrusive questions or comments about someone’s sex life, body, or appearance

Non-verbal sexual harassment 

Non-verbal sexual harassment happens when someone uses actions to intimidate or humiliate another person. This can include sending explicit messages, making inappropriate gestures, or stalking.  It is illegal and treated as seriously as verbal harassment

Physical sexual harassment 

Physical sexual harassment includes unwanted touching like kissing, stroking, or grabbing. It also involves suggestive looks, staring, or leering. Standing too close to someone, indecent exposure, or suggestive touching of one’s own body part are also part of this. It can also include unwanted photos or videos under a person’s clothing, which is called ‘upskirting’. Upskirting is an offense of it’s own under the 2.  

Online sexual harassment

Online sexual harassment is unwanted sexual behaviour that happens online. This can occur through email, social media, or text messages.

This can include:

• Sending indecent photos or body part images.
• Spreading sexual rumours.
• Sharing sexual jokes or memes.
• Creating deep fake images or videos.
• Making sexual comments on social media photos.

How common is sexual harassment?

3young women in the UK reported experiences of sexual harassment between March 2023 and February 2024. 23.5% of women aged 16 to 24 said they faced sexual harassment in the past year. Additionally, 25.6% reported experiencing all types of harassment during the same period. This compares to 2.7% of boys aged 16 and over. Girls and young women aged 16 to 24 are nearly ten times more likely to experience sexual harassment than boys and men the same age. Young women often face more harassment, whether online or offline.

4 by End Violence Against Women found that almost a third of girls in the UK don’t feel safe from sexual harassment at school.

Where does sexual harassment occur most frequently? 

A5 from the Government Equalities Office found that sexual harassment often occurs in these places:

• On the street or while walking (42%)
• In a club, pub, or bar (31%)
• On public transport (28%)

In our State of Girls’ Rights in the UK report, 93% of girls and young women said they don’t feel “completely safe” in public places. This includes parks, gyms, shopping centres, and schools.

How sexual harassment impacts children and girls 

Experiencing sexual harassment can have a profound effect on children and girls. They may suffer from anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and low self-esteem. It may prevent them from taking part in activities or socialising, leading to isolation. The trauma could affect their sleep, concentration, and lead to feelings of guilt and shame. 

Working to overcome sexual harassment around the world 

To overcome sexual harassment globally, we need education and to challenge gender stereotypes and norms.

All young people need relationships, sex and health education regardless of their gender. Both girls and boys need to learn about sexual and reproductive health and rights. It builds a foundation for healthy, equal relationships.

Education can challenge gender stereotypes and harmful practices. Education helps young people challenge harmful beliefs, attitudes, and practices they encounter. They have the power to transform their communities.

Tackling sexual harassment and violence in communities 

To achieve gender equality, we need everyone. Working together with men and boys is critical. We’re helping boys understand healthy relationships. We want them to feel empowered and become champions for gender equality.

We work with communities to challenge harmful practices and social norms that limit girls' choices over their bodies and lives. This can mean helping families and communities talk about sexual and reproductive choices. It also includes discussing sexual violence and harmful practices like child marriage and FGM.

Sexual harassment in the workplace 

Sexual harassment at work is quite common in the UK. About 72% of adults have faced it at some point in their lives. Additionally, two in five (43%) experienced it in the past year.6

Effects of sexual harassment in the workplace 

Experiencing sexual harassment in the workplace can have a huge impact on the individual affected. As a result, they can experience anxiety, trauma and depression which could lead to ill health. This work-related stress can take a toll, affecting their work performance and their personal life.

How to prevent sexual harassment 

Even though sexual harassment in the workplace is against the law, it is fairly commonplace. A new duty under the Equality Act 2010 started in October 2024. It requires employers to take “reasonable steps” to prevent sexual harassment of employees. This includes harassment from co-workers or others, like customers, clients, or patients.

Employers now have a duty to anticipate when sexual harassment may occur, for example in the office, at a client’s office, at a conference or a work social event, and take reasonable steps to prevent it.  “Reasonable steps” can include having clear policies on sexual harassment, undertaking risk assessments, providing training and having clear reporting systems.

How you can make a difference

All young people need comprehensive sexuality education. This helps them understand their bodies, their sexuality, and what healthy relationships are like. Together, we can tackle the beliefs, practices and norms that deny girls access to what they need, when they need it. Support us as we work to ensure that every girl is in control of her body, her life, and her future.

FAQ 

What is considered sexual harassment?

Sexual harassment is defined as unwanted behaviour that is sexual in nature and that makes someone feel scared, upset, humiliated or offended. It can include any sexual act, like cat-calling, touching, staring, or explicit messages online.

Who can experience sexual harassment? 

Sexual harassment can happen to anyone, regardless of age, gender, or sexual orientation. However, it is more common among girls and women.

Who is responsible for preventing sexual harassment? 

Everyone has a role to play in preventing sexual harassment. Schools, colleges, universities, and workplaces must keep students and staff safe and protected. Workplaces have a legal duty to take “reasonable steps” to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace.  

• 1

  https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/section/26

• 2

  https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2019/2

• 3

  https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/bulletins/crimeinenglandandwales/yearendingmarch2024

• 4

  https://www.endviolenceagainstwomen.org.uk/campaign/abouttime/

• 5

  https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/60f03e068fa8f50c77458285/2021-07-12_Sexual_Harassment_Report_FINAL.pdf

• 6

  https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/60f03e068fa8f50c77458285/2021-07-12_Sexual_Harassment_Report_FINAL.pdf