Actress Emma Watson has launched a new helpline, Rights for Women, which gives victims of being sexually assaulted at work fee legal advice. Women in England and Wales will be able to phone the advice line run by the charity Rights of Women to understand what their rights are and what they should do legally.
They will take donations from the public as well as the service being funded by the Time’s Up UK Justice and Equality Fund to help it get up and running.
Rights of Women will be providing legal advice for sexual harassment victims, including:
- Identifying sexual harassment
- How to bring a complaint against an employer
- The employment tribunal procedure
- Settlement agreements and non-disclosure agreements
Research from the Trades Union Congress shows one in two women can be sexually harassed in their workplace.
We’re proud to launch our new free legal advice line for women in England & Wales who have been sexually harassed at work, funded by @TIMESUPUK @RosaForWomen and backed by @EmmaWatson
The phone number is 02074900152 and opening times are on our website https://t.co/5Vd8rs11x3 pic.twitter.com/RdNOEVCr3X
— Rights of Women (@rightsofwomen) August 5, 2019
Emma Watson said: “I’m certainly hopeful that with global standards such as the recent International Labour Organisation treaty on harassment at work, we’ll start to see a new climate of prevention and accountability on this issue domestically.
“Understanding what your rights are, how you can assert them, and the choices you have if you’ve experienced harassment is such a vital part of creating safe workplaces for everyone.
“This advice line is such a huge development in ensuring that all women are supported, wherever we work.”
The Sexual Harassment At Work legal advice line can be called on 020 7490 0152 and is open on Mondays between 6pm and 8pm and on Tuesdays between 5pm and 7pm
Rights of Women’s senior legal officer, Deeba Syed, said: “This advice line’s purpose is to empower women to exercise their legal rights in the workplace. By advising women about their legal options and increasing their understanding of equalities and discrimination law, we will be able to help them make informed choices about next steps, including how to navigate the legal system with confidence.
“We know that complaints of sexual harassment at work are still frequently responded to in a gendered manner that is negative, undermining or can lead to victimisation. That is why Rights of Women will also work towards dismantling the underlying structural problems that puts the burden on victims and makes it difficult for women to come forward through its policy work.”
