SEXUAL HARASSMENT: TABOO TOPIC AT UNIVERSITIES – LEGAL FRAMEWORK IN NORTH MACEDONIA
Author/s: prof. Ice Ilijevski, Angelina Stanojoska, Ivona Shushak Lozanovska
Pages: 29-45
UDK: 343.436-057.875(497.7)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.47152/rkkp.61.3.2
Abstract: According to the Istanbul Convention sexual harassment is a form of unwanted verbal, nonverbal, or physical behavior of a sexual nature with the aim or consequence of violating the dignity of a person, especially when an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating, or offensive environment is created. Because of the specificity of the academic environment, the intention is every member of the academic community to be aware that universities should prohibit sexual harassment and sexual violence and that such conduct violates both the law and university policies. The main subject of the paper is the danger of sexual harassment in an academic context. In doing so, the legal frame of sexual harassment in the Republic of North Macedonia is reviewed with special emphasis on its determination in an academic context. The aim of the paper is to give an overview of the legal framework in North Macedonia regarding sexual harassment, also to conclude whether and which Macedonian public and private universities mention sexual harassment in their legal documents, and to test the knowledge among students about this phenomenon (using a segment of the research “Sexual Harassment at universities in North Macedonia), because recognizing and knowing is the first step in the process of prevention.
Keywords: sexual harassment, university, victim, Republic of North Macedonia, students
References:
- Bastiani, F., Romito, P. & Saurel-Cubizolles, MJ. (2019) Mental distress and sexual harassment in Italian university students. Arch Womens Ment Health, 22, pp.229–236. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-018-0886-2
- Bondestam, F., Lundqvist, M. (2020). Sexual Harassment in Higher Education: A Systematic Review. European Journal of Higher Education, 4, pp. 397-419. https://doi.org/10.1080/21568235.2020.1729833
- Ferrer-Pérez, V., Bosch-Fiol, E. (2020). Sexual harassment at a Spanish public university: an examination of victims’ experiences by gender and campus status. Journal of Gender Base Violence, , 4(1), 41-58. https://doi.org/10.1332/239868019x15764491770571
- FRA - European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights. (2014). Violence against women: An EU-wide survey—Main results. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union. https://doi.org/10.1163/2210-7975_hrd-9992-2014010
- Lindsay Brown M., Booth J., Messing J., Thaller J., (2015) Experiences of Online Harassment Among Emerging Adults: Emotional Reactions and the Mediating Role of Fear. Journal of interpersonal violence, 31(19), 3174-3195. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260515584344
- Merkin, S., (2012). Sexual Harassment Indicators: The Socio-Cultural and Cultural Impact of Marital Status, Age, Education, Race, and Sex in Latin America, Intercultural Communication Studies XXI, available at: https://web.uri.edu/iaics/files/15RebeccaSMerkin.pdf. , accessed on 13 July 2022
- Nikolic – Ristanovic, V., Copic, S. (2022). Seksualno nasilje nad studentima na fakultetima u Srbiji. Beograd: Viktimolosko drustvo Srbije – VDS, 2022
- Tavares, P., Wodon Q. (2018). Ending Violence Against Women and Girls. Global and Regional Trends in Women’s Legal Protection Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Harassment. Washington D.C.: The World Bank. DOI:10.13140/RG.2.2.34651.49446
- Till, F. J., (1980). Sexual Harassment: A Report on the Sexual Harassment of Students. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education.
- UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), CEDAW General Recommendation No. 19: Violence against women, 1992, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/52d920c54.html, accessed on 30 March 2022
- Етички кодекс за студентите на Универзитетот „Гоце Делчев“ – Штип, Универзитетски гласник, бр. 18 од 10 мај 2011 година; available at: https://www.ugd.edu.mk/documents/ugd/eticki_kodeks_za_studentite.pdf, accessed on 30 March 2022
- Етички кодекс на Бизнис академија Смилевски, available at: https://bas.edu.mk/dl/vaznidokumenti/BAS_Etichkikodeks.pdf, accessed on 30 March 2022
- Етички кодекс на Универзитетот „Гоце Делчев“ – Штип, Универзитетски гласник, бр. 18 од 10 мај 2011 година; available at: https://www.ugd.edu.mk/documents/ugd/eticki_kodeks_za_vrabotenite.pdf, accessed on 30 March 2022
- Етички кодекс на Универзитетот „Св. Кирил и Методиј“ во Скопје, Универзитетски гласник, бр. 549 од 10 мај 2021 година; available at: http://www.ukim.edu.mk/dokumenti_m/248_Eticki_kodeks.pdf, accessed on 30 March 2022
- Етички кодекс на ФОН Универзитетот од 30.05.2011 година, available at: https://fon.edu.mk/content.aspx?cid=161, accessed on 30 March 2022
- Закон за еднакви можности на жените и мажите, Службен весник на РСМ, бр. 6 од 13.01.2012 година;
- Закон за заштита на децата, Службен весник на РСМ, бр. 23 од 14.02.2013 година;
- Закон за заштита од вознемирување на работно место, Службен весник на РСМ, бр. 79 од 31.05.2013 година;
- Закон за работните односи-пречистен текст, Службен весник на РСМ, бр. 167 од 28.09.2015 година;
- Закон за спречување и заштита од дискриминација, Службен весник на РСМ, бр. 258 од 30.10.2020 година;
- Закон за спречување и заштита од насилство врз жените и семејното насилство, Службен весник на РСМ, бр. 24 од 29.1.2021 година.