Sexual Harassment: Progress and Further Needed Action

“Since [violence against women] is rooted in discrimination, impunity and complacency, we need to change attitudes and behavior - and we need to change laws and make sure they are enforced...” – Ban Ki-moon, Eighth UN Secretary-General

We are pleased to be able to report some encouraging steps taken here in Hong Kong in one of our longstanding advocacy areas – helping to protect women and girls from sexual harassment.

Last week, the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) released findings from their Report on the Formulation of Anti-Sexual Harassment Policies of National Sports Associations (NSAs) in Hong Kong 2020. The research was encouraging, showing an increase in sports associations that have adopted measures to prevent sexual harassment, for example 90% have formulated a clear anti-sexual harassment policy, up from 35% in 2018.

At the same time, the EOC launched an Anti-Sexual Harassment Hotline as part of their recently established Anti-Sexual Harassment Unit (ASHU). A welcome addition to hotlines in the city, it offers information for anyone who has been affected by sexual harassment including on relevant laws, how to make a complaint and referrals to counselling services if needed.

More progress has been made against voyeurism and non-consensual upskirting photography, thanks to a strong consensus from the public. The government plans to bring in new laws to make these practices criminal offences this year. Currently, Hong Kong’s outdated legislation offers no redress for these specific acts, with perpetrators facing charges of loitering or public indecency for example, which do not reflect the sexual nature nor the seriousness of the offenses. The long overdue reforms will help to bring legal protections in our city into the 21^st century and acknowledge the experience of victims of sexual harassment and violence, the vast majority of whom are women and girls.

The laws are being drafted as a result of responses to the public consultation, to which the overwhelming majority agreed with the need for specific laws against these sexual violations. We hope this action will be quickly followed by the adoption of the remaining critical reforms for substantive sexual offences in the Crimes Ordinance proposed by the Hong Kong Law Reform Commission (HKLRC) in December 2019. From including a statutory definition of consent and expanding the definition of what acts constitute statutory ‘sexual penetration without consent’ to ensuring stronger protections for sexual minorities, minors and other vulnerable individuals, these reforms are urgently needed to ensure stronger protections for all people against sexual violence.

At TWF, we will continue to push for the adoption of these legal reforms as part of our multi-pronged approach to engage all sectors in addressing barriers preventing a sexual violence-free city. We are also responding to the HKLRC’s most recent public consultation asking for views on Sentencing and related matters on Sexual Offences and we encourage you to make a submission. In particular, we are keen to see greater protections for minors and other vulnerable individuals through Sexual Conviction Record Check, requiring them for volunteers and self-employed people, who are currently exempt.

Your views matter and make a difference. Join us in helping to strengthen protections, especially for young people, and address a vital area that – if improved – will contribute to creating a safer city for all.

Get in touch at Fiona.Nott@twfhk.org.

2021

Written by

The Women's Foundation

Get Involved

Website Disclaimer

Privacy Policy

The Women’s Foundation (TWFHK) is committed to protecting your privacy and to ensuring that all personal data provided to us is handled in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (PDPO).

Purpose of collecting and keeping personal data
1. TWFHK will use personal data collected from you for the purposes for which it was collected.
2. TWFHK may use your personal data (including your name, job title, company name, contact details such as email, telephone and fax numbers, credit card or other payment details and other information collected in your profile such as the event(s) or programmes you participated in or wish to participate in, the areas of interest you indicated, reviews, feedback and opinions and any other personal data you choose to provide to us etc.) for one or more of the following purposes including, but not limited to:
(a) provision of services for donations, sponsorship, events, programmes and volunteers through this Website or any other means (including enquiries, and provision of any related payment, identification, registration, billing), administration, management and communications purposes including surveys, feedback collection and research whether via mail, electronic mail, telephone, SMS, fax or online etc.
(b) the provision of updates and direct marketing (via fax, email, direct mail, telephone or other means of communication including social media or e-newsletters) in relation to our programmes, research, courses, volunteer opportunities, workshops and events, promotions, offers, opportunities for sponsorship, networking and donations, advocacy campaigns, opinion sharing, news updates, information and other related services or benefits provided by TWFHK and/or other partners or organisations.
3. TWFHK will not collect any personal information that identifies a visitor to our website (or associated websites) (“Website”) unless specified otherwise (for example in the sign up to an e-newsletter, event registration, donation, download or access to research reports or other tools or resources). Your visit to our Website will record the server information including IP address and the pages visited. Such information will be used to prepare aggregate information about the number of visitors to the Website and general statistics on usage patterns.

Privacy of personal data and disclosure
1. Your personal data will be kept strictly confidential and securely kept.
2. TWFHK will not divulge, sell, trade or rent personal data to external parties for their own purpose.
3. However, TWFHK may disclose or transfer such personal data where such disclosure is necessary to satisfy the above purpose, or a directly related purpose, for which the data was collected (including without limitation debt collection or payment services, telecommunications. IT and computer services, marketing, communications, distribution or other services), to:
(a) any third party service provider and any other person under a duty of confidentiality to TWFHK including without limitation, TWFHK staff, agents and other organisations which have undertaken to keep such information confidential; and
(b) any person or entity to whom TWFHK is under an obligation to make disclosure under laws or guidelines issued by regulatory or other authorities.

Access and correction of personal data
1. The provision of your personal data to TWFHK is on voluntary basis.
2. In accordance with the Ordinance, you may request access to your personal data held by TWFHK. A charge may be imposed to cover the cost of photocopying personal data at the rate approved by the Secretary for Financial Services and Treasury.
3. You are entitled to request access to and correct your personal data held by TWFHK, and request us to cease to use of your personal data at any time without charge.
4. You may opt out of receiving marketing communications at any time by following the unsubscribe instructions contained in the marketing communications or contacting TWFHK at info@twfhk.org with your full name and contact details.
5. If you are in a EU Member State, you have the right, subject to certain limitations or restrictions, under the data protection laws in the EU to:
(a) request access to and rectification or erasure of your personal data;
(b) obtain restriction of processing or to object to processing of your personal data; and
(c) the right to data portability.
Individuals in the EU also have the right to lodge a complaint about the processing of their personal data with their local data protection authority.
6. Data access or correction requests should be addressed to us in writing to:
The Women’s Foundation
9A Chun Wo Commercial Centre,
23-29 Wing Wo Street, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong.
Telephone: +852 2592 8265
Email: info@twfhk.org

Changes in this privacy policy
TWFHK reserves the right to update, revise, modify or amend this Privacy Policy from time to time as TWFHK deems necessary so please review it frequently. Changes and clarifications will take effect immediately upon their posting on the Website. If we make material changes to this Privacy Policy we will notify you here that it has been updated, so that you are aware of what information we collect, how we use it, and under what circumstances, if any, we use and/or disclose

Enquiries
Should you have any enquiries about TWFHK’s Privacy Policy and practices, please contact info@twfhk.org or +852 2592 8265.

May, 25 2018

Sexual Harassment: Progress and Further Needed Action

Written by

Recent Posts

Blog Archives

Get Involved

Search

Website Disclaimer