Lottides issues recorded media message for sexual harassment awareness

Ombudswoman Maria Stylianou-Lottides has launched an awareness campaign to report sexual harassment in the workplace.

The campaign includes a recorded message with the results of a recent survey carried out by Insights Market Research (IMR) and the University of Nicosia to be played on the radio.

According to the survey, 81 per cent of sexual harassment incidents in the workplace happens to women.

More than half, 59 per cent find it difficult to speak up because they feel they will not get justice. Another 58 per cent fear the consequences filing a report will have on their personal life, while 55 per cent said they fear the social stigma.

The commissioner’s office is concerned with cases of sexual harassment in the workplace. In the case of sexual abuse, cases are referred to the police.

A code of practice for the prevention of sexual harassment in the civil service was published in January 2019 by the ombudswoman’s office.