The Status of Sexual Harassment Laws in the Arab Region.
| Existence of Sexual Harassment Law | Detailed Description | |
|---|---|---|
| Algeria | Yes | Sexual harassment is criminalized by Articles 333 bis and 341 bis of the Penal Code. |
| Bahrain | Partly | Although there is no sexual harassment offense in the Labor Law No. 36 of 2012, workplace sexual harassment of government employees is penalized by the Civil Service Law. The Penal Code also criminalizes acts of immorality and assault (Articles 344 and beyond of the Penal Code). |
| Djibouti | Partly | Penal Code offenses may cover some forms of sexual harassment. Articles 430–431 of the Penal Code criminalize public insult with penalties of six months' imprisonment and a fine. |
| Egypt | Yes | Law No. 50 of 2014 amended the Penal Code (Articles 306 bis(a) and 306 bis(b)) to introduce penalties for sexual harassment, including imprisonment. |
| Iraq | Yes | Sexual harassment in the workplace is prohibited by the Labor Law. Some forms of sexual harassment are prohibited by Articles 400 and 402 of the Penal Code. These offenses include committing an immodest act, making indecent advances, or assaulting a woman in a public place in an immodest manner. |
| Jordan | Partly | Sexual harassment can be punished as the offense of unwanted sexual contact under Articles 305 and 306 of the Penal Code. However, the scope of the law is unclear and online harassment is not addressed. Penalties are increased if the perpetrator is an employer or supervisor. |
| Lebanon | Partly | The Labor Code does not prohibit workplace sexual harassment. The Penal Code includes the punishment of some indecent acts to which the description of sexual harassment may apply, including Articles 385, 507, 519, and 532. |
| Libya | Partly | Article 12 of the Labor Relations Law prohibits employees from performing or inciting acts of sexual harassment. Articles 368–398 of the Penal Code criminalize physical and sexual assaults in public. |
| Morocco | Yes | Article 503 of the Penal Code criminalizes sexual harassment. |
| Oman | Partly | Although there is no specific sexual harassment offense, indecent acts or gestures against women and girls are criminalized by Article 266 of the Penal Code. |
| Palestine | Partly | Sexual harassment is not criminalized by the Labor Code. Article 305 of the Penal Code criminalizes unwanted sexual conduct, which covers some types of sexual harassment. |
| Qatar | Yes | Offensive remarks, sounds, or gestures against women and girls are criminalized by Article 291 of the Penal Code. |
| Saudi Arabia | Yes | Sexual harassment was criminalized in 2018. The law defines “harassment” as any word, act, or sign with a sexual connotation by a person to any other person that harms their body or modesty by any means, including through modern technology. |
| Somalia | Yes | Article 24 of the Provisional Constitution prohibits sexual abuse in the workplace. The Puntland Sexual Offences Act 2016 prohibits sexual harassment. |
| Sudan | Yes | Article 151 of the Criminal Act was amended in 2015 to criminalize acts of sexual harassment. |
| Syria | Partly | There is no specific sexual harassment offense in the Penal Code or Labor Law. However, according to the Penal Code, criminal conduct includes indecent touching. |
| Tunisia | Yes | Article 226 of the Penal Code prohibits sexual harassment. |
| Yemen | Partly | There is no specific offense of sexual harassment. Some types of harassment may fall under the crimes of committing disgraceful acts against women and girls, which are punishable under Articles 273 and 275 of the Penal Code. |
| Existence of Sexual Harassment Law | Detailed Description | |
|---|---|---|
| Sexual harassment is criminalized by Articles 333 bis and 341 bis of the Penal Code. | ||
| Although there is no sexual harassment offense in the Labor Law No. 36 of 2012, workplace sexual harassment of government employees is penalized by the Civil Service Law. The Penal Code also criminalizes acts of immorality and assault (Articles 344 and beyond of the Penal Code). | ||
| Penal Code offenses may cover some forms of sexual harassment. Articles 430–431 of the Penal Code criminalize public insult with penalties of six months' imprisonment and a fine. | ||
| Law No. 50 of 2014 amended the Penal Code (Articles 306 bis(a) and 306 bis(b)) to introduce penalties for sexual harassment, including imprisonment. | ||
| Sexual harassment in the workplace is prohibited by the Labor Law. Some forms of sexual harassment are prohibited by Articles 400 and 402 of the Penal Code. These offenses include committing an immodest act, making indecent advances, or assaulting a woman in a public place in an immodest manner. | ||
| Sexual harassment can be punished as the offense of unwanted sexual contact under Articles 305 and 306 of the Penal Code. However, the scope of the law is unclear and online harassment is not addressed. Penalties are increased if the perpetrator is an employer or supervisor. | ||
| The Labor Code does not prohibit workplace sexual harassment. The Penal Code includes the punishment of some indecent acts to which the description of sexual harassment may apply, including Articles 385, 507, 519, and 532. | ||
| Article 12 of the Labor Relations Law prohibits employees from performing or inciting acts of sexual harassment. Articles 368–398 of the Penal Code criminalize physical and sexual assaults in public. | ||
| Article 503 of the Penal Code criminalizes sexual harassment. | ||
| Although there is no specific sexual harassment offense, indecent acts or gestures against women and girls are criminalized by Article 266 of the Penal Code. | ||
| Sexual harassment is not criminalized by the Labor Code. Article 305 of the Penal Code criminalizes unwanted sexual conduct, which covers some types of sexual harassment. | ||
| Offensive remarks, sounds, or gestures against women and girls are criminalized by Article 291 of the Penal Code. | ||
| Sexual harassment was criminalized in 2018. The law defines “harassment” as any word, act, or sign with a sexual connotation by a person to any other person that harms their body or modesty by any means, including through modern technology. | ||
| Article 24 of the Provisional Constitution prohibits sexual abuse in the workplace. The Puntland Sexual Offences Act 2016 prohibits sexual harassment. | ||
| Article 151 of the Criminal Act was amended in 2015 to criminalize acts of sexual harassment. | ||
| There is no specific sexual harassment offense in the Penal Code or Labor Law. However, according to the Penal Code, criminal conduct includes indecent touching. | ||
| Article 226 of the Penal Code prohibits sexual harassment. | ||
| There is no specific offense of sexual harassment. Some types of harassment may fall under the crimes of committing disgraceful acts against women and girls, which are punishable under Articles 273 and 275 of the Penal Code. |
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