This Advisory Guide for Sexual/Academic/Power Harassment was formulated by Kyoto University of Foreign Studies and Kyoto Junior College of Foreign Languages in order to help ensure a comfortable educational and research environment for all members of the university community. We aim to ensure a climate free from sexual, academic and power harassment, where the human rights of all individuals are respected.
The staff at this university are prepared to deal with any questions or problems you may have involving sexual or academic or power harassment. The protection of your privacy will be our foremost priority as we work with you to reach a resolution.

Guidelines Regarding Harassment

Creating a Harassment-Free Environment

Increased awareness of what constitutes harassment by each and every member of the community is crucial in the prevention of harassment. Each of us can help by:

1. Showing respect for others
2. Understanding what constitutes harassment
3. Being aware of the steps this university is taking in the prevention of harassment

Zero Tolerance

Remember that through carelessness anyone can become a perpetrator or a victim of harassment. What you intended as a playful, friendly remark or gesture can easily cause discomfort in another.

What is Sexual Harassment?

Sexual Harassment is any unwanted sexual comment or behavior

Sexual harassment is unwelcome verbal or physical behavior of a sexual nature that makes a person feel uncomfortable or humiliated, or that of which violates their dignity, regardless of gender.
Sexual harassment also includes discriminatory speech and/or conduct towards people of the same gender as well as towards LGBT people.
Sexual harassment can also result when a person having authority or power in a work or academic environment takes advantage of his/her position to make or imply unwanted sexual suggestions or demands upon another.

Some examples of sexual harassment

• Making comments or remarks regarding someone's physical appearance.
• Overly persistent in starting a relationship. Excessive phone calls and texting.
• Unwanted and/or excessive touching at social gatherings.
• Making obscene remarks and/or sexual jokes.
• Posting sexual images and messages on social media.
• Persistently asking someone out for meals or dates.
• Repeatedly spreading slanderous gossip about someone (e.g. saying someone is sexually promiscuous).

What is Academic Harassment?

Academic Harassment is offensive, malicious, or unfair treatment in an educational or research environment

Academic harassment is any offensive, malicious, or unfair comment or behavior by a person in a position of power that causes another person to suffer a loss or to perceive they have suffered a loss of their independence and/or personal dignity. Academic harassment violates the rights of an individual to study, perform research within the university community.

Some examples of academic harassment

• Denial or forced acceptance of research topics.
• Assigning grades/credits unfairly.
• Refusing to instruct without a justifiable reason.
• Inappropriately commenting on someone's ability or personality.
• Denying access to literature and equipment in a research office.
• Blatant favoritism.
• Sabotaging research activities through actions such as refusing to pay for research expenses.

What is Power Harassment?

It is harassment made by a person in authority toward a subordinate

Power harassment is an act of harming the workplace environment characterized by a power disparity between the perpetrator and the victim which involves verbal and physical behavior that exceed the bounds of necessity and relevance in the ordinary course of business.
It is verbal or physical behavior that diminishes a victim's motivation in the workplace by attacking their character with insults and verbal assaults, or causing physical or psychological pain, by taking advantage of the harasser's authority or position in an unfair and unjust manner.

Some examples of power harassment

• Scolding a person in a loud and intimidating manner.
• The repetition of excessive scolding for a prolonged time.
• Sending abusive e-mails that demean a person's capability.
• Setting unrealistic targets without giving proper guidance, and then rebuking a person when those goals are unachieved.
• Not providing the necessary information to carry out job-related duties.
• Assigning work beyond the boundaries of someone's job description or assigning work of a private nature.

Advisors

The university's advisors have been trained and are qualified to give advice regarding matters of harassment. You may contact the advisor of your choice. Please find the list of advisors and their contact information on the back of this leaflet. Advisors may be contacted directly in person or by letter, phone, or mail.

Office of Human Rights Education

Professional Counselor

Yumiko Suto
Counselor, Women's Counseling Kyoto

Your privacy will be protected

The protection of your privacy will be the advisor's foremost priority. If you seek their advice, you will not suffer any repercussions.

There are three courses for taking action

1. Seek Advice	Advisors will sincerely listen to you and thoroughly discuss different possible options with you for reaching a resolution.
2. Appeal for Mediation	A mediation committee will meet with all parties involved in an attempt to reach an agreeable resolution. The committee will not ask you to face the other party(ies) without your approval and desire to do so.
3. File a Formal Complaint	An investigative committee will examine the case and decide upon appropriate measures to deal with the problem, including possible legal or punitive action against the offender(s).

If you experience harassment, don't suffer alone…