NMLS proposes making sexual harassment a criminal offence

 

The Norman Manley Law School (NMLS) has recommended making sexual harassment a criminal offence.

 

The recommendation was made during Thursday's sitting of a joint parliamentary committee examining the Sexual Harassment bill.

 

The bill makes sexual harassment a civil matter.

 

However, Karen Seymour Johnson, who represented the law school at the sitting, said civil sanctions are not enough in all cases. 

 

"Sexual harassment goes even deeper and further than what we are presently contemplating and many times results in acts of violence and even death. Most if not all victims simply want to be able to live their lives and go about their businesses without being harassed. They just want the conduct to stop. Often times the perpetrators are persons of great wealth, power or influence, and are only deterred by the threat of criminal sanctions. Hence, the call for sexual harassment to be criminalised," she argued.