Why Is Sexual Harassment Not Illegal In The UK?

[Judi Lynn]

Why Is Sexual Harassment Not Illegal In The UK?

The Debrief: It's an offence to sexually harass a woman in a public place in Portugal, Belgium and Peru. So, why, is it not illegal to sexually harass someone in the United Kingdom?


Vicky Spratt | Features Editor | 4 hours ago

Hands up if you've ever been followed down the street? If a stranger has ever commented on your appearance? If you've ever been groped ina club by somebody you didn't know and didn't want to touch you? Told to 'cheer up love' by a random guy?

Last year in the UK the number of recorded sexual offences on trains and at stations rose by 25% and hit record levels, according to the British Transport police. There are no official figures for street harassment in general, partly because it’s not a crime and partly because many women don’t feel they can report it.

The last time women were polled substantially (by YouGov in 2012) and asked whether they had experienced sexual harassment in public, 43% of women aged 18-34 said they had. Indeed, in 2014, a survey conducted by Girlguiding UK found that up to 60% of girls and young women aged 13 to 21 had experienced sexual harassment at school or college.

To really drive it home, last year research done by Hollaback and Cornell University found that 84% of women are harassed in public by the time they turn 17, with that figure rising to 90% in the UK. Make no mistake, public harassment is part of growing up as a woman in this country.We grow up, put up and get on with it. In light of all this, you may find it somewhat surprising (and frustrating) that, in the same year sexual offences on our public transport system hit an all time high, Portugal made the verbal harassment of women in the street a crime. The country’s Social Democratic party ensured that offences can incur a fine of up to 120 euros (£95) and even are punishable by up to a year in prison.

More:
http://www.thedebrief.co.uk/news/real-life/why-is-sexual-harassment-not-illegal-in-the-uk-20160262317

[Nitram]

1. We're British. We don't do sex

...ual harassment. But, seriously, I think their is a belief in the UK that their society is a bit more civilized than every one else.

[Ford_Prefect]

2. I always thought Britain was the original preserve of White Male Privilege.

Divine right of kings and all that class superiority and heritage, Noble blood, and so-on leading to the justified abuse of those less powerful.

England has a very different history regarding personal liberties and rights guaranteed than the US or most European countries.

[muriel_volestrangler]

3. But, in this case, it's pretty typical

The exceptions are Peru, Portugal and Belgium that have introduced laws about sexual harassment.