Topic: Workplace Sexual Harassment
Country: Honduras
Delegate Name: Ella Stauffer
School: Forest Hills Northern High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Honduras position papers GLIMUN 2018 committees
Sexual Harassment in the workplace is a pressing issue with more than 80% of women experiencing some sort of sexual harassment. This is not easily defined, and this issue varies from country to country and region to region. There has been difficulty in defining sexual harassment, but there are multiple examples including inappropriate sexual advances, offensive comments, or making sexual remarks. Sexual harassment can add on a load of physical and emotional effects such as muscle aches, high blood pressure, and post traumatic stress disorder. In Honduras, victims have filed more than 80,000 accusations of domestic violence and 90% of these case have ended with no conviction. We need a judicial system that supports women. Our judicial system is one of the greatest obstacles to applying international instruments that would protect women such as a convention that would eliminate all forms of discrimination against women. Honduras agrees with any efforts to help eliminate sexual harassment in the workplace including the secretary-general's bulletin in 2005 regarding an implementation of a learning programme and 24-hour hotline for staff to report sexual harassment. We suggest the emphasis of reporting, investigating and decision-making. Additionally, victims should be encouraged to step forward and report cases of harassment, through a secure legal system which our country desperately needs. We would support a program that would educate workers about appropriate workplace behavior.
