Human Rights report highlights workplace sexual harassment
Sexual harassment was among a number of employment-related complaints received by the Human Rights Commission last year, MPs heard yesterday.
The 2024 Human Rights Report was laid in the House of Assembly by Tinée Furbert, the Minister of Youth, Social Development and Seniors.
Reports to the organisation also included those from people who believed that they were denied employment because of a criminal record.
Ms Furbert said others claimed that they were terminated because of their family status while some reported discriminatory treatment with respect to pay because of their place of origin, ethnicity or national origin.
She said that the 68 per cent of 179 intakes received by the HRC — which accounted for 95 queries, 83 complaints and one special programme application — related to employment and the workplace. In 2023, the commission received 74 complaints.
The HRC website said that the commission can approve a special programme where it is designed to “relieve hardship, economic disadvantage or assist disadvantaged persons or groups to achieve or attempt to achieve equal opportunity”.
Ms Furbert said the HRC observed significant increases in intakes that appeared to contravene the Human Rights Act, with a higher volume of matters advancing through the complaint handling stages in contrast to previous years.
Of the total intakes in 2024, 16 per cent remained open while the rest were resolved.
In a statement, the HRC said the total intakes last year represented a 19 per cent increase on the figure for 2023.
It said disability, sex and ethnic or national origins were the most commonly reported grounds of discrimination.
In a breakdown, the HRC said that in 2023, disability represented 11 per cent of all intakes under the protected grounds of discrimination. In 2024, the figure climbed to 17 per cent.
It said that in 2023, it received 20 intakes on the protected ground of sex. In 2024, the total more than doubled to 42.
The total number of intakes identifying ethnic or national origins saw a significant increase in 2024, up 14 per cent from 5 per cent the previous year.
In the report, the HRC said that since 2022, there has been an increasing trend in complaints and queries received by it.
It said that since 2023, it had implemented a comprehensive education and communications strategy, which sought to increase awareness of the commission and to educate Bermuda’s residents on their human rights.
“This was a large focal point of the commission’s strategic education and communication initiatives, which appears to have resulted in an increase in contact between our office and the public,” the HRC said.
Ms Furbert told the House: “The annual report highlighted that Palestine continued to feature among the work of the commission as the ongoing genocide against Palestinians continued in 2024.
“The commission joined the peace march and the gathering on Cabinet grounds, coinciding with the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, emphasising the need for vigilance in protecting rights.”
• To see the minister’s statement in full, see related media
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