Living in Peru : your everyday companion

Peru Congress passes bill against sexual harassment at work

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Peruvian congress passed a bill against sexual harassment or blackmail at workplace, that even contemplates firing the offender.

"This law comes to fill a legal void, establishing standard procedures and minimizing the risks of sexual harassment, and in general it comes to provide legal security and social peace to the country," said Chairman of the Working Committee, Juan Carlos Eguren.

The law includes as sexual harassment any verbal or physical conduct of sexual nature or sexist nature which is repeatedly done, creating a climate of intimidation, humiliation or hostility.

Eguren said that the law is incorporates as sexual harassment any harassment that is sex-related or with sexual connotations, or activities that are unpleasant enough to disturb the harassed employees.

The bill was sent to the Executive for its enactement.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

 | | | |

• Peru : Cusco, Peru: Quillabamba and Machu Picchu without electricity due to landslides
• Latin America : Argentina's President Cristina Kirchner to be decorated by Peru's Congress
• Economy : Peru's currency strengthens and appreciated 1.70% so far this year
• Opinion : Animal right activists denounce the surfing alpaca stunt in Peru
• Sports : Peru: Three european soccer clubs may be interested in Juan "Loco" Vargas

# Rob says :
23 October, 2009 [ 14:35 ]

Too bad.  I love Peru because it is a country that still has true freedom and hasn't deneutered it's males like in the US.   Sad to see them heading down this path and creating an atmosphere of distrust and accususation.

# Viracocha says :
23 October, 2009 [ 22:50 ]

Hola todos,

Firstly,this is a laywer's dream come true.

Secondly, I wonder what will now happen to the female secretaries ,and other female employees,who grant "favours" to their bosses to keep their job, or higher pay ??

Whilst this harrassment thing is for the protection of some, in the main,from what I see here, it purely offers the opportunity to unscrupulous people to "create" claims against people that they do not like in their working environment, or just for financial gain....in the form of compensation....and the lawyers love these cases for their cut of the monies.

Sorry for my cynicism, but I do not think this will work too well in Peru....much the same way it hasn't in most other societies....except for the lawyers.

Chau por ahora,

Viracocha

# Chris says :
24 October, 2009 [ 11:06 ]

In the USA sexual harassment law is used by women to get even with men at work.   The guy never gets a fair chance to defend himself, as a false accusation by a woman is all that is needed for a guilty charge against the man.

# Oliver says :
24 October, 2009 [ 11:13 ]

I totally agree with some of the comments here. Women use sex at the office all the time. You see them flirting and using low cut tops. They instigate the flirting. And use it to their advantage.

# Rabin says :
24 October, 2009 [ 19:05 ]

The women who are in favor of sexual harassment laws are typically the ones that never get harassed.  (if you didn't figure it out, the ugly ones).  Bad move emulating the USA, Peru is better and freer, but trending in the wrong direction now.

# Viracocha says :
24 October, 2009 [ 21:18 ]

Awaiting Mericorps comments ....could be interesting?!

Name

Email

Notify me via e-mail of new comments to this entry

Code :

Comment

• Comments are the property of their respective authors, and LivinginPeru.com is not responsible for the content of these comments
• Only comments in English will be published
• Por ahora solo se permiten comentarios en ingles.
• Any offensive, injurious, profane or disrespectful comments will not be published
• You must include a real email address (this WILL be verified) for your comments to be published
• Repeat comments, or comments of a similar nature written by the same person will not be published
• All comments are sent to a moderator before publication
• Referring to the topic indicated in the article will increase your chances of publication
• Repeat offenses of the above guidelines will result in the removal of your ability to comment