Sexual harassment under criminal law of some European countries and experience for Vietnam

Abstract

Sexual harassment is defined as an act of sexual nature that violates human rights and human dignity. This offense may be committed in a variety of forms, namely physical, verbal or nonverbal, of which verbal sexual harassment is considered the most common form. The article studies provisions on sexual harassment prescribed in the Criminal Codes of various European countries. On the basis of the criminal legislative experience of these countries, the author suggests that there is a need for criminalization of the sexual harassment offence against over 16-year-old persons in Chapter XIV of the Criminal Code 2015 of “ Offences against the person and reputation”.