Last Sunday, May 15, 2016, 17 current and former female ministers of France issued a joint statement denouncing sexual harassment at the workplace in the wake of multiple charges against former deputy parliamentary speaker, Denis Baupin.

Unfortunately, even in this day and age, with the pervasiveness of discrimination and violence against women, it is clear that issues pertaining to women’s rights and equality are still seen as a “woman’s problem” instead of societal problem that we all need to address.

Sexual harassment is one of the most prevalent forms of violence against women, covering a range of offensive behaviours from subtle verbal remarks and glances to violent sexual assault. The reality is that women face many subtle forms of sexual harassment every day. The incident in France is not isolated. It mirrors a global problem that women face in terms of sexism, discrimination and outright violence. Malaysia is no exception.

Men face sexual harassment too but statistics show that women face such issues at a disproportionately high level. It is important to understand how sexual harassment, which is rooted in gender inequality, affects men.

First of all, all men, as responsible fathers, brothers, husbands, friends and colleagues of women cannot help but be strongly impacted by what is happening to their daughters, sisters, wives and so on. How can this type of behaviour and violation of women’s rights be acceptable to any kind of progressive and just society? It is crucial that men, as much as anyone else, speak up against such acts of violence.

Secondly, gender stereotypes also operate against men, particularly those men who themselves experience sexual harassment, whether by women or by other men. The concept that sexual violence against men is impossible, ridiculous, or funny stems directly from assumptions about patriarchal gender roles.

Men face societal pressure to be strong, ‘macho’ and in control. This makes male victims of sexual harassment less likely to report the incident, because they fear losing public respect.

As a society that values gender equality, we must create a culture where victims of violence, regardless of their gender, feel empowered to report the crimes committed against them.

I urge the Malaysian federal government to enact specific legislation against sexual harassment, which is in line with our international obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (Cedaw).

A single piece of legislation may not be able to resolve problems within an oppressive system overnight, but it will serve to better protect all persons from gender based violence at the workplace and sends an important message that sexism and discrimination in all its forms is unacceptable.

Currently, we have legislated for provisions to investigate into allegations of sexual harassment under our employment law, but we do not yet have a specific, standalone piece of legislation that criminalises sexual harassment as such.

This leaves victims of more subtle forms of sexual harassment, regardless of gender, without general protection under the criminal law which provides for other types of more overt crimes such as rape and molestation, especially in non-employment situations.

Above all, I urge our men, especially our male leaders, to take a stand against sexual harassment. Men, together with women, are indispensable partners in our path towards gender equality. We may not be able to resolve problems within an oppressive system overnight; but, working together, we can better protect all persons (regardless of gender) from sexual harassment and send the important message that violence and sexism in all its forms is unacceptable.

CHONG ENG is Penang state exco member for Women, Family and Community Development, and chair of the board of directors, Penang Women’s Development Corporation (PWDC).