Govt to introduce new law to protect victims of harassment

SINGAPORE — The Government will seek to introduce a new law to protect victims of harassment next Monday (Mar 3).

The Ministry of Law (MinLaw) said the Protection from Harrassment Bill will provide self-help measures, civil remedies and criminal sanctions for a range of behaviours ranging from sexual harassment within and outside the workplace to verbal harassment, cyber-bullying, bullying of children and stalking.

In addition, the existing protection for public servants will be extended to essential service workers, for example those working in public healthcare and public transport.

Offences under the proposed bill — which will be introduced in Parliament for First Reading by Law Minister K Shanmugam on Monday — will apply to acts committed outside of Singapore as long as the victim is in Singapore and the offender knew the victim would be in Singapore at the time the acts are committed.

In terms of self-help and civil remedies, MinLaw said a victim may apply to the Court for Protection Orders requiring harassers to desist from doing anything which may cause further harm to them, for instance. The court may also require the harasser or third party to remove offending material. Expedited Protection Orders to protect victims may be granted in cases of urgency, MinLaw added.

Victims who have false facts alleged against then can also get the court to direct “suitable notification” which alerts readers that the facts are false.

MinLaw said it consulted extensively with stakeholders, together with the Ministry of Home Affairs. Among the stakeholders consulted were the Association of Women for Action and Research, the Singapore Children’s Society, and the Coalition Against Bullying for Children and Youth. Lawyers who have represented victims of harassment were also consulted, MinLaw added.