Israel: Sexual Harassment Law Amended
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 11:45 AM

Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, passed an amendment to the Prevention of Sexual Harassment Law, 5758- 1998 on January 30, 2012, which extended the statute of limitations for filing a sexual harassment suit from three years from the date of the act to seven years. The extension is based on the view that there are special characteristics of these types of offenses, taking into account the long process required for victims to recognize that they have suffered from harassment, loss of employment, and the time necessary to deal with feelings of guilt and fear of exposure.

According to the original 1998 law, sexual harassment includes, “threats, indecent acts, repeated sexual offers, or comments focusing on a person's sexuality when the person has expressed a lack of interest in such offers or comments, as well as demeaning behavior towards a person regarding his or her gender, sexuality, or sexual orientation” (Prevention of Sexual Harassment Law, 5758-1998, § 3).

 

Compiled from: The Library of Congress News & Events   (9 February 2012)