Dr. Yulia Kampner
Ira Ivshin Guetta
Email: HITSAFE@hit.ac.il
HIT Holon Institute of Technology, as an institution of higher education, is committed to creating an equal learning environment free from harmful sexual behaviors. The Institute views sexual harassment as a violation of students’ rights to study and develop in an equal atmosphere, free from gender-based discrimination. Sexual harassment prevents victims from having equal opportunity to fulfill their academic and professional potential. Therefore, the Institute maintains a clear policy on this matter with the following objectives: preventing incidents of sexual harassment at the Institute and investigating and handling each case individually.
To ensure that HIT Holon Institute of Technology serves as a workplace and place of study free from sexual harassment or retaliation stemming from sexual harassment, the Institute operates a Sexual Harassment Prevention Commission under the authority of the “Law for Prevention of Sexual Harassment” and according to the Sexual Harassment Prevention Regulations. The Commission assists those who consider themselves sexually harassed, advises on rights and possible courses of action, and when necessary, transfers complaints to the Disciplinary Committee for further handling.
Dr. Yulia Kampner
Ira Ivshin Guetta
Email: HITSAFE@hit.ac.il
Due to the importance of this matter, the Institute has appointed Sexual Harassment Prevention Commissioners as required by law.
The Commissioners operate under legal authority and according to established procedures, and inform those who find themselves sexually harassed of their options for action. The Commissioners will receive complaints according to procedures and when necessary will transfer complaints to the Institute’s Disciplinary Committee. All information received by the Commission remains internal and confidential.
Do Not Blame Yourself
Sexual harassment, like rape and sexual assault of any kind, is not something victims bring upon themselves.
It is an action performed by the harasser. Self-blame causes anger to be directed inward and leads to depression. It is important to express anger outward and direct it toward the harasser.
If you delay your response, the harmful behavior will not stop.
The continued feeling of victimhood constitutes cumulative damage to your well-being.
Silence enables the phenomenon to continue. Most likely, you are not the only victim.
By breaking the silence, you protect others from future sexual harassment.
Anyone who has been sexually harassed and seeks counseling:
You can also receive counseling, information, and legal guidance through the Women’s Lobby in Israel hotline, or at the Rape Crisis Center: Tel: 03-6850041, Emergency Tel: 1202.
Sexual harassment is morally unacceptable behavior because it harms a person’s well-being, dignity, psyche, and/or body through the exploitation of power, authority, or status to obtain sexual gratification.
Sexual harassment is defined as the imposition of unfair sexual demands in the context of unequal power relationships. Sexual harassment is characterized as unilateral behavior, done against the will of the harassed person.
Examples of behaviors that may be considered sexual harassment can be classified along a continuum that begins with stares, crude jokes, double-meaning statements, references with sexual content to the harassed person’s body parts, rubbing, or any physical contact done “as if” accidentally touching the buttocks, chest, and other places, caresses, pinches, or hugs, and continues with offensive comments of a sexual nature, pressure for social outings, pressure for sexual relations, direct threats, and demands for sexual favors, up to and including sexual assault and rape.
Creating a sexual atmosphere in the office and transmitting sexual messages via email will also be considered sexual harassment.
Impact of Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment affects people in many ways, none of them positive.
Often, victims blame themselves for what happened to them, instead of blaming the person who committed the sexual harassment.
The self-confidence and self-esteem of victims are damaged as a result, and some suffer from headaches, stomachaches, and symptoms of stress.
Victims of sexual harassment in higher education institutions sometimes stop their studies, change courses, or change their specialization. Some experience depressive moods without understanding the reason.
Often, the victim of sexual harassment feels anger that has no outlet – anger that leads to feelings of helplessness, lack of power, and isolation.
In September 1998, the Law for Prevention of Sexual Harassment, 5758-1998, came into effect. The purpose of the law is: “to prohibit sexual harassment, in order to protect human dignity, freedom and privacy, and to promote equality between the sexes.”
The law establishes that sexual harassment will be considered one of the following acts:
(a) To a minor or helpless person – while exploiting relations of authority, dependence, or care.
(b) To a patient, in the context of psychological or medical treatment – while exploiting the patient’s dependence on the caregiver.
(c) To an employee in the context of employment relations, and to a person in service in the context of service – while exploiting authority in employment or service relations.
The law imposes on employers the obligation to take reasonable measures to prevent sexual harassment and to establish an effective way to file complaints about sexual harassment. In accordance with the law’s requirements, the Institute has adopted a sexual harassment prevention procedure that regulates the complaint handling process.
Support them, talk to them, help them cope. Your support will reduce their sense of isolation and helplessness.
Encourage them to act, to refuse the harasser, to complain about the harassment, and to contact the Commissioner for handling sexual harassment.
Remind them that it is not their fault.
Do not accept sexual harassment as “that’s the nature of the world,” “that’s life,” “it is what it is.” Silence implies consent, and the more seriously sexual harassment cases are handled, the greater the chances of stopping harassers from repeating their behavior.
Discuss the problem among yourselves and initiate a direct group conversation with the harasser about their undesirable behavior.