Question

How does sexual harassment in the workplace violate the Universal Declaration of Human Rights?

A. It allows employers to discriminate against employees based on religion
B. It is a violation of the duty to provide the right to life and liberty
C. It violates an employee's freedom of thought and speech expression
D. It is against the basic principle that all humans are free and equal in dignity and rights

Answer 1

Sexual harassment infringes on an individual's rights to equality and dignity as outlined in the UDHR and is a form of sex discrimination prohibited under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Step-by-step explanation:

Sexual harassment in the workplace violates the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, specifically in the context of Article 1, which states that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. This aligns with option D, which mentions that it is against the basic principle that all humans are free and equal in dignity and rights. Sexual harassment creates an environment where victims feel unsafe and disrespected, thereby contravening the principles of equality and dignity outlined in the Declaration.

According to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination that is illegal in the United States. It adversely affects an individual's employment, interferes with their work performance, or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment, which stands contrary to the promise of equality in the workplace irrespective of sex.

While the UDHR explicitly advocates for the right to freedom of expression and religion under Articles 18 and 19, sexual harassment infringes upon the broader rights to security, safe working conditions, and personal dignity, emphasizing that employment should not entail a waiver of fundamental human rights, regardless of the nature of harassment - sexual, religious, or otherwise.