The responsible authorities dealing with complaints of sexual harassment on campus:
– Student Union Sexual Harassment Issues & Gender Equality Coordinator, Yael: [054-2321345], gender@aguda.bgu.ac.il. Student Center, level 1, room 163.
– Sexual Harassment Complaints Representative, Prof. Esther Priel: [08-6479537], priel@bgu.ac.il.
What is sexual harassment?
According to the law (legislated in 1988):
1. Blackmail and threatening, when the act demanded is of a sexual nature.
2. Sexual contact that leads to sexual arousal, satisfaction or humiliation, without consent.
3. Repeated suggestions of sexual nature, when the person to whom the suggestions are directed has shown to the harasser that she/he isn't interested in him/her.
4. Repeated references focused on a person's sexuality or sexual preferences, when the person referred to has shown to the harasser that she/he isn't interested in said references.
5. A degrading or humiliating reference regarding a person's gender, sexuality or sexual preferences.
Or to put it simply: Any physical harassment of a sexual nature or/and any sexual statement or behavior that is repeated though obviously unwanted, is sexual harassment.
The above sections refer to the whole population, regardless of gender and sexual preferences.
Sexual harassment procedure in university:
If you've been sexually harassed on campus, you may write a complaint and send it to the Sexual Harassment Complaints Representative Prof. Esther Priel, in order to act according to the university regulations.
You could also turn to her personally, via the details as seen above, or turn to the Student Union's Coordinator – Tom Yogev, and be accompanied throughout the procedure. All information handed in to both coordinators is completely confidential until you decide otherwise!
The coordinator or representative will inform you on the different options of action, after which you may decide to act, or decide not to act with an official complaint after all. If that is the case, the procedure will be stopped and all other details will remain confidential.
If you do decide to hand in an official complaint, the representative will conduct a more thorough inquiry with further authorities – the defendant (the person you complained about) and further witnesses, in order to know the whole picture. At the end of the inquiry, the representative will sum up her conclusions and hand them in to the President of the university, who will in turn decide how to continue the rest of the procedure according to the disciplinary and sexual harassment prevention protocols. As well as the procedure taking place within the university, you may file a complaint at the police station or/and through civilian procedures.
The entire procedure is completed with maximum confidentiality and privacy, as well as protection from further harassment if necessary.