Today, the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the U.S Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published a document entitled, Today, the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the U.S Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published a document entitled, Effective Practices for Preventing Sexual Harassment. The document includes examples of sexual harassment, provides specific actions that HHS-funded programs, universities and university health and medical offices can take to reduce or prevent occurrences of sexual harassment, and identifies protective protocols that can be implemented by university health and medical professionals to protect students, employees, patients and others from sexual harassment. The document and additional information about sex-based harassment may be found on OCR’s website.
OCR enforces Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 (Title IX) and it’s implementing regulations. Title IX requires universities and other recipients of federal financial funding to ensure all their programs are administered free of sex discrimination, including sexual harassment.
OCR is available to offer technical assistance to university Title IX Coordinators and staff on all civil rights obligations. If you would like assistance, please contact your Regional office or email OCR’s main mailbox at [email protected].