United Nations reports on issues concerning women's rights that are issued in the future may be located at the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights website, Documents on Women's Rights. This site includes documents produced by the Commission on Human Rights, Commission on the Status of Women, and the Economic and Social Council, many of which are listed in this compilation.

Not a Minute More: Ending Violence Against Women, United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), 2003 (PDF, 114 pages).
This report highlights the substantial achievements and advancements in women’s human rights over the past few decades, suggests reasons for the continued pandemic of violence against women, and outlines the next steps in eradicating gender-based violence through collaboration and partnerships.   

2003 Report of the Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women, Integration of the Human Rights of Women and the Gender Perspective: Violence Against Women, E/CN.4/2003/75 (Jan. 2003) (PDF and Word, 24 pages).
This report provides general information on sexual harassment law and policy around the world. In Chapter V, Sexual Harassment, the Special Rapporteur notes that since 1994 many countries have adopted laws concerning sexual harassment. She discusses two forms of sexual harassment: "Eve teasing" and sexual harassment in the workplace. "Eve teasing" consists of unwelcome advances in public places and has been criminalized in many countries. Laws on sexual harassment in the workplace hold employers accountable for quid pro quo harassment and where "verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's job performance or creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment." The Special Rapporteur concludes her discussion of sexual harassment by noting that rules and regulations controlling behavior and speech must "be sensitive to the implications for free speech and association."

International, Regional and National Developments in the Area of Violence Against Women 1994-2003, Addendum 1 to the 2003 Report of the Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women, E/CN.4/2003/75/Add.1 (Feb. 2003)(PDF and Word, 397 pages). 
This discussion provides information on the sexual harassment laws passed by national governments around the world. Most of the country reports discuss sexual harassment, examining legislation, landmark cases, policies and programs, and issues of concern. Eastern Europe is discussed on pp. 335-391; Central Asian states are included in the Asia section from pp. 165-222.

First World Report on Violence and Health, World Health Organization, 2002. [PDF, 372 pages; 54-page summary in PDF, press releases and fact sheets available]. Also available in Russian (PDF, 369 pages).
The Summary of the Report includes a discussion of sexual violence (pages 17-18), which defines sexual harassment as "including demands for sexual favors in return for jobs or school grades." Chapter 6 of the full report provides much more detail about sexual violence (pages 149- 181), including a definition of sexual violence, risk factors for and consequences of sexual violence, and strategies to address victims' needs, deal with perpetrators, and educate the community. The Report concludes with general recommendations for responses to violence at local, national and international levels.

1997 Report of the Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women, Alternative Approaches and Ways and Means Within the United Nations System for Improving the Effective Enjoyment of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (E/CN.4/1997/47), February 1997.
In Chapter 3, Rape and Sexual Violence Against Women, Including Sexual Harassment, Radhika Coomaraswamy introduces her report on sexual harassment by discussing an incident of sexual harassment that occurred at the United Nations. She then discusses sexual harassment as a form of violence against women that occurs in the community, asserting that sexual harassment, which can occur in the workplace or in educational institutions, "strikes at the heart of women's economic self-sufficiency, disrupting women's earning capacity by forcing them out of the workplace or school. Women are nine times more likely than are men to leave their job as a result of sexual harassment."

1995 Report of the Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women, Preliminary Report (E/CN.4/1995/42), November 1994.
In her first report on violence against women as Special Rapporteur, Radhika Coomaraswamy lays out the broad themes of her mandate and notes that state inaction is a serious obstacle to defending women from violence. She describes three areas of violence against women—violence in the family, violence in the community, and violence perpetrated or condoned by the state—and describes sexual harassment as a form of violence in the community, noting that it lacks an adequate definition. She suggests that the definition encompass unwanted conduct and conduct that is offensive or threatening that takes place in the workplace, in educational institutions, or elsewhere.

Fact Sheet No. 6: Women and the Economy, United Nations Department of Public Information (DPI/2035/F), May 2000.
This fact sheet describes international legal standards relating to women's economic rights. It also includes an overview of changes in domestic legislation enacted since the Beijing Conference.

World Health Organization Fact Sheet on Violence Against Women, June 2001.
This fact sheet defines violence against women, discusses its health and societal impact, details a public health approach to addressing the issue, and lists action taken by the WHO to combat such violence.

Picturing a Life Free of Violence: Media and Communications Strategies to End Violence Against Women, Chapter 2: Sexual Assault And Coercion, Saying No to Sexual Harassment in the Workplace, UNIFEM and the Media Materials Clearinghouse of the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs, 2001. [PDF, 10 pages]. The Full Report is also available.
This publication catalogues communication strategies used to raise awareness of violence against women and includes a poster used to raise awareness of the "right to protection from sexual harassment at the workplace."

The following reports provide information on sexual harassment from the International Labor Organization (ILO), a United Nations agency that deals with sexual harassment as an issue of discrimination and workplace violence.

Sexual Harassment at Work: National and International Responses, Dierdre McCann, Conditions of Work and Employment Program, International Labour Organization (2005). (PDF, 74 pages)
The report assesses the worldwide effort to prevent and combat sexual harassment in the workplace. It looks at regional and international instruments, domestic legislation and the role of social organizations and NGOs. The report also identifies what responsibilities the employer has, as well as the most effective measures and policies a company can take to prevent and combat this form of sexual harassment.

Time for Equality at Work, Global Report under the Follow-Up to the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, International Labour Conference, 91st Session, 2003.
This report addresses sexual harassment in the context of discrimination and its effects on the well-being of a worker. Part I includes a general discussion of sexual harassment in the workplace, while Part II discusses national laws and legal action. Part III recommends that "sexual harassment policies and procedures . . . include a policy statement, a complaint procedure adapted to sexual harassment that maintains confidentiality, progressive disciplinary rules, and a training and communication strategy." [Russian version]

The ILO InFocus Programme on Safety and Health at Work and the Environment has a number of resources on Violence at Work. These include the following materials that address sexual harassment: 

• A leaflet on the Emerging Problem of Violence at Work. [PDF, 2 pages].
• A summary of ILO action on violence at work.
• The report Violence at the Workplace: the Global Challenge, Duncan Chappell & Vittorio Di Martino, November 2000. [PDF, 9 pages].
  This report provides a basis for understanding the nature of workplace violence and suggests ways to prevent it in the future. It highlights best practices and successful methods of prevention, including guidance for specific occupations and types of violence. It is aimed at policy-makers, employers' and workers' organizations, health and safety professionals, managers and trainers.
• A review of What Can Be Done About Violence At Work, November 2000. This ILO paper analyzes a variety of intervention strategies that can be adopted to combat violence at work.
• Violence at Work in the European Union: Recent Finds, A report on the results of the Third European Survey of Working Conditions, December 2000.
  This report presents data on violence at work, based on 21,500 interviews conducted throughout the European Union. The report specifically examines sexual harassment, physical violence, intimidation and bullying, differences in the incidence of sexual harassment in member states, health effects, and absenteeism. 

Annotated Bibliography on Sexual Harassment at Work, International Labor Organization, Conditions of Work Branch.
This bibliography provides a wide range of source materials on sexual harassment at work that deal with the causes and types of harassment, the legal framework and evolving jurisprudence, and intervention measures to prevent future sexual harassment. It includes books, journal articles, monographs, reports, surveys, conference proceedings, and videos.

Catalogue of ILO Publications on Occupational Safety and Health: Sexual Harassment, 2000; last updated March 2001.
This catalogue includes a listing of guides and manuals, reports, and other publications.

Prevention of Sexual Harassment in the Workplace, Report to the International Labor Conference, 271st Session (GB.271/4/1), March 1998.
The 5th agenda item includes information on the work of the ILO on the issue of sexual harassment and proposes that standards on sexual harassment be adopted in a convention that is modeled on the Discrimination Convention (No. 111).

Tripartite Meeting on Labour Practices in the Footwear, Leather, Textiles and Clothing Industries, October 2000.
This report provides general and country-specific information about sexual harassment in the footwear, leather, textiles and clothing industries, and recommends that specific steps be taken to end discriminatory practices.

Handbook on National Machinery to Promote Gender Equality and Action Plans: Guidelines for Establishing and Implementing National Machinery to Promote Equality with Examples of Good Practice, 2001.
This document contains a broad discussion of national approaches to promoting equality, including examples of good practices in Finland and Sweden.

Seminar: "A New Social Contract Between Women and Men: the Role of Education" , December 2000.
The seminar touched on the issue of sexual harassment in schools and includes a report by Elina Lahelma, the Finnish delegate from the University of Helsinki/Academy of Finland, Department of Education, on strategies for addressing sex-based harassment in schools.

Council of Europe Activities Since 1995 in the Field of Equality between Women and Men Related to the Strategic Objectives in the Beijing and Vienna Platforms for Action, 22 May 2000.
This report follows the structure of the Beijing Platform for Action and includes multidisciplinary strategies to promote equality between men and women. In promoting Equality in Economic and Professional Life, the Council of Europe encourages governments to combat sexual harassment at the workplace through legislative and administrative measures, collective agreements, awareness-raising campaigns, and counseling and support for victims.

Violence Against Women: Compilation of the Main Texts of the Council of Europe Since 1995, 1999.
This is a compilation of the following Council of Europe texts: Summary of a Plan of Action to Combat Violence Against Women (1997), Information Forum on "Ending Domestic Violence: Action and Measures" (1998), and Seminar "Men and Violence Against Women (1999).

Equality Between Women and Men: Priorities for the Future, Final Report of Activities of the Group of Specialists on Future Priorities, Strategies and Working Methods in the Field of Equality Between Women and Men, October 1999.
This report discusses the current state of equality efforts in Council of Europe countries, highlighting where there are still "blockages" to achievement of equality. Two areas that are discussed in some detail are educational institutions and the workplace, where new strategies and approaches are being developed to address the problem of sexual harassment.

Proceedings of the 4th European Ministerial Conference on Equality Between Women and Men, 13-14 November 1997.
This report of a 1997 conference on equality between women and men includes presentations from the delegations of Turkey, Romania, Belgium, Finland, France, Sweden and Germany, all of which provide information about and examples of domestic strategies to combat sexual harassment in the workplace.

General Council of Europe documents in the field of equality between women and men can be accessed on the website for the Steering Committee for Equality Between Women and Men.

The homepage for equality between men and women provides general information on the subject. There is also a specific site on preventing sexual harassment at work.

Annual Report on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men in the European Union 2002 briefly discusses the 2002 European Council and Parliament directive on sexual harassment and reports on the changes countries have made to their domestic law in response to the directive.

European Union Tells Members to Bar Sex Harassment, July 2002.
This article describes a directive from the European Council and Parliament requiring member states to institute laws banning sexual harassment in the workplace.

Harassment At The Workplace, Jan Andersson MEP, European Parliament, 21 July 2001.
This report looks at the need for efforts to prevent and combat bullying at the workplace and endorses a "dignity" approach to overcoming harassment.

Pandora Project: Women's Sexual Harassment at the Workplace, Daphne Programme, Illustrative Cases. This project surveyed women about their experiences with harassment and made proposals for preventive measures to deal with sexual harassment.

Breaking the Bullying Barrier, Daphne Programme, Illustrative Cases. This report examines the problem of bullying in schools in Scotland, Denmark, and Portugal.

Sexual Harassment in the Workplace in the European Union, European Commission Directorate-General for Employment, Industrial Relations and Social Affairs, Unit V/D.5, 1999. [PDF, 243 pages].
This comprehensive report includes two reports commissioned by the European Commission. One gathers the information available on the issue of sexual harassment in 11 countries (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom), examining 74 surveys and qualitative studies conducted between 1987 and 1997. A scholarly article by the researchers of this report is also available in the European Journal of Women's Studies. [PDF, 21 pages]. The other study covers 5 Southern European countries (Greece, Spain, France, Italy and Portugal).

The Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) is the OSCE division responsible for ensuring respect for human rights, and promoting the rule of law and democracy. The following websites and reports describe OSCE/ODIHR policy on the specific issue of sexual harassment. For a discussion of the international obligation to address sexual harassment in the European region, see Sexual Harassment: Law and Policy. Further information about the European human rights system is also available in the International Law section of this site.

Prevention of Harassment & Discrimination: A Guide to the Promotion of a Professional Working Environment in the OSCE. [PDF, 2 pages].
This leaflet details the OSCE's policy on harassment and discrimination. It defines sexual harassment and provides examples of such harassment in three categories: physical, verbal, and visual harassment. The leaflet also describes a range of formal and informal remedies for sexual harassment.

Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting: Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women: Annotated Agenda, OSCE, March 2002. [PDF, 3 pages].
This annotated agenda provides questions for discussion in each of the three areas of violence identified by the UN Special Rapporteur for Violence Against Women: domestic violence, violence in the community (including sexual harassment), and violence in connection with armed conflict.

Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting: Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women: Final Report, OSCE, March 2002. [PDF, 29 pages].  
This report includes introductory remarks by Alie Kuiper, Director of the Expert Centre for Sexual Harassment in the Netherlands, entitled Sexual Harassment at Work: The Current Situation in the EU.