"acoso sexual" in English

The use of child soldiers and sexual assaults on Sri Lankan women is endemic.

This is a serious case of sexual assault within the army which is yet to be dealt with.

The Commission has taken an active part in the work to prevent sexual violence against children.

This touches on topics such as indirect discrimination, harassment, positive action, burden of proof, etc.

It is my conviction that combating harassment at work is a matter for the Member States.

Mr President, I must begin by gently drawing attention to what we said in 2001 in the report for which I was responsible.

– Commissioner, Mr President, the report on harassment at the workplace was adopted almost three years ago.

The report encourages States and organisations involved to take measures in favour of equal treatment and to combat sexual intimidation.

We also refer to protection for vulnerable groups, for vulnerable children exposed to the dangers of sexual abuse, harassment and bullying.

This means that it is doubtful that any European directive would be effective, but can the Commission put forward proposals as to how individual efforts in the Member States might be supported?

In the same way, all harassment-related matters now enter into the scope of application of this directive. Here harassment is considered to be discrimination.

Firstly, we have obtained a broad scope of application and, secondly, the directive covers both direct and indirect discrimination, including malice.

Women are, of course, particularly vulnerable if they have suffered violence in their home - rape or sexual abuse, stalking or other kinds of gender-based violence.

However, it is, of course, positive that sexual intimidation is recognised as a form of discrimination, particularly against women, but recognition is as far as it goes.