International Bar Association’s ‘#MeToo?’ report into bullying and sexual harassment in the international legal profession

• International Bar Association
International Bar Association
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The International Bar Association (IBA) and Acritas conducted the largest-ever global survey on bullying and sexual harassment in the profession. Nearly 7,000 individuals from 135 countries responded, from across the spectrum of legal workplaces: law firms, in-house, barristers’ chambers, government and the judiciary. The results provide empirical confirmation that bullying and sexual harassment are rife in the legal profession. Approximately one in two female respondents and one in three male respondents had been bullied in connection with their employment. One in three female respondents had been sexually harassed in a workplace context, as had one in 14 male respondents.

In Us Too? Bullying and Sexual Harassment in the Legal Profession (May 2019), the IBA Legal Policy & Research Unit (LPRU) analysed this data to understand the nature, extent and impact of the problem and inform the development of solutions. The Us Too? report outlines 10 recommendations for achieving positive change, and highlights steps the IBA will take to lead by example.

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