First Sexual Harassment Case Heard in China

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, November 20, 2001

First Sexual Harassment Case Heard in China

A court hearing into China's first case of sexual harassment was recently heard in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

A court hearing into China's first case of sexual harassment was recently heard in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

A female staff member in her 30s recently lodged a lawsuit to the Lianhu District People's Court in Xi'an against her employer for sexual harassment..

The accuser, surnamed Tong, said that since 1994 the company manager has deliberately touched her body on many occasions at theoffice while promising her a good job. He even asked Tong to go toa hotel room he had booked.

When Tong's boss was reprimanded, the manager made things difficult for her and withheld her bonus and allowance.

Angry and upset, Tong had to stay at home. When she went back to work, her unit refused to give her a job and urged her to withdraw the petition.

Tong's lawyer said he is not confident in winning the case because there is no law on sexual harassment in China and it is difficult to obtain direct evidence.

Sexual harassment is a strange concept for most Chinese. In general, the female is the sexual harassment victim. Because of old ideas about women, sexual harassment victims used to ask the women's federation for help or endure the humiliation.

Tong says, "Though I am the first sexual harassment accuser in China, I am not the only one with this experience."

Chinese experts suggest amendments for protecting legitimate personal rights be added to state laws such as laws for teachers, corporations and physicians.