What is Sexual Harassment?

Sexual Harassment is unwanted sexual attention or unwanted emphasis on your sex or sexual orientation. It includes any unwelcome pressure for sexual favors, any comments, gestures or other conduct which places an offensive focus on the sex or sexual orientation of another person, and any gender-based conduct that is directed at you and that creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working or learning environment for you. Sexual harassment is often confused with sexual assault. Sexual harassment is any unwanted comment, gesture or contact of a sexual nature.

Sexual harassment is often confused with sexual assault. Sexual Harassment falls under Human Rights law, a civil legislation, not the Criminal Code of Canada. Sexual harassment complaints that have occurred within the University of Toronto can be addressed by the Sexual Harassment Office. The Sexual Harassment Office handles complaints of harassment based on sex or sexual orientation at the University of Toronto.

Please refer to the University of Toronto’s Sexual Harassment Office for further information about the Sexual Harassment policy: www.utoronto.ca/sho/

Other links relevant to sexual assault: