Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault in Canadian Sports and Courts.

Sexual harassment is deemed a violation of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms which provides protection from discrimination based on sex. Provincial jurisdictions may offer legislation more stringent than that reflected in the Canadian code. Recourse for acts of sexual harassment through the courts is sought by alleging discrimination. The judicial system's legal definition of sexual harassment addresses both the direct harassment between the harasser and the harassed and the indirect harassment that creates the offensive, sexist environment detrimental to comfort and productivity. Sport, for a number of historical, cultural, and social reasons, has generally been dissociated from the issue of senial harassment. In November 1993, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation put a crack in the wall of protection with their investigation of sexual harassment in athletics and the airing of their documentary "Crossing the Line." Legal complaints are expected to become more frequent as a result, and most sport organizations prefer prevention and early resolution rather than court proceedings. Prevention efforts involve the development of organizational policy, education, and communication of a zero tolerance. An appendix offers a summary of Canadian law as it relates to sexual harassment. (Contains 11 references.) ODD) ************************************************A**************) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made * from the original document. * *********************************************************************** m fra. cimittiffamilbeautataloblailawomilieleavdmihaikveAvira U S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Eaucabonal Research and Improvement "PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY CENTER (ERIC) improve reproduction quality document has beer reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it Minor changes have been made to Points of view or opinions stated in this TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES document do not necessarily represent INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) official 0E111 position or policy Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault In Canadian Sports and Courts r-kr,