Manager Becomes First Man Jailed Under Chinese Harassment Laws

A Chinese office manager has been jailed for five months for sexually harassing a subordinate - the first time anyone has been punished for the offense under new laws designed to protect women.

The number of complaints made by women in China has been increasing since laws banning harassment and domestic violence were introduced three years ago.

However, an expert in the field said the small number of incidents that led to legal cases had previously been resolved through civil law.

The man, a manager surnamed Liu from Sichuan province, invited a new female colleague to "discuss work matters" in his office but then told her he wanted to be her boyfriend, the Beijing News, citing a local newspaper, reported.

When she turned him down, he held her by the neck and kissed her. Colleagues called police after hearing her scream.

According to a 2005 survey cited in state media, only 21% of women said they had never faced sexual harassment.

Another survey, by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, found harassment was twice as prevalent in foreign or private enterprises as in state-owned enterprises, with 40% of private employees reporting problems.

Li Ying, the deputy director of the Center for Women's Law and Legal Services at Peking university, said the number of complaints was increasing as women became more aware of their legal rights.

"This is a global problem, but in China there is not enough approval, understanding and tolerance," she said.

"There aren't clear definitions for what sexual harassment is in the court, so when a judgment is being decided it is hard for the judge."

Li added that companies were not yet held responsible for the harassment of staff as they are in other countries.

According to the state-run Xinhua news agency, only 10 sexual harassment cases were brought in the five years prior to the new law's introduction, and only one of those was successful.