A Weak Anti -Harassment Policy
19 Feb 2008
February 19 saw the launch of a seminar on harassment organised by the DG ESTAT Equal Opportunities Working Group (ESTAT-EOWG) for all DG ESTAT staff between 14.00-15.30 in room Quetelet.
Mrs Emmanuelle Grange Head of unit of DG ADMIN.B.4. - Equal Opportunities and Non -Discrimination Unit, was invited as speaker to present the Commission's current policy. Mrs Bohata, Deputy Director -General of ESTAT, was also present.
Less than 50 people attended this seminar.
Following a very short presentation of the subject, the Commission's definition of the different forms of harassment (psychological / sexual), and the legal issues concerning who is a victim and who is a harasser were touched upon.
We also learnt that even though officially there are over 200 cases each year in the Commission, not even one harasser has been punished with more than a formal warning.
Regarding a question on what follow up is done on reported cases Mrs Grange said she does not have enough resources to do a complete follow up.
Following a question on how many managers have followed a harassment course Mrs Grange replied 50 in the Commission.
Mrs Grange and Mr Lane, head of ESTAT/A1 Human Ressources unit, both were
unable to say if any among those 50 managers came from ESTAT.
Regarding another question on whether any of the ILO conventions on harassment have been signed by Commission, Mrs Grange replied that the Commission has not signed those conventions and prefers to make its own decisions.
We know of 6 specific cases where staff at Eurostat have been harassed by their bosses and have been forced out of their positions. ESTAT administration has been complicit in these actions. In all cases those harassers are still in their position.
What message does this send to staff?
It is clear that the Commission's anti-harassment policy needs to be reinforced if it is to be taken seriously.
Some references to international human rights organisations can be found here:
http://www.hreoc.gov.au/about/links/index.html#sexdisc,
Décision contre le harcèlement moral et le harcèlement sexuel... du 26 avril 2006
M.R.Fardoom
President of SID
