What is Harassment?

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Harassment is any form of unwanted and unwelcome behaviour which may range from mildly unpleasant remarks to physical violence. All harassment is a crime.

Sexual harassment refers to unwanted behaviours that are linked to your gender or sexual orientation. The EU definition of sexual harassment is "unwanted conduct of a sexual nature or other conduct based on sex affecting the dignity of men and women at work".

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Racial harassment

This is when the behaviours are linked to your skin colour, race, cultural background, etc. A racist incident is anything that is perceived to be racist by the victim or any other person.

Religious or sectarian harassment

This refers to unwanted behaviours linked to your religious beliefs or perceived religious origin or inclination.

If the harassment is physical, the criminal law of assault may be appropriate. If the harassment comprises regular following, watching, repeated unsolicited contact or gifts, etc, the term stalking may be appropriate.

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Discrimination

This is when you are treated differently (e.g. less favourably) because of your gender, race, disability, sexual orientation or religious beliefs.

Bullying is the common denominator of harassment, discrimination, abuse and violence etc. The source of most bullying and harassment can usually be traced to one individual.

The differences between harassment and bullying are that harassment tends to have a strong physical component and is usually linked to gender, race, disability or physical violence etc.; bullying tends to be a large number of incidents (individually trivial) over a long period comprising constant unjustified and unsubstantiated criticism.

Bullying and harassment (at work, in society, at school and at home) is a major cause of injury to health, both physical and mental. Over time, bullying and harassment result in trauma, which is a psychiatric injury, the collective symptoms of which often constitute Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD.

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Page updated: 24 Jan 2008