How we prevent and respond to violence and sexual harassment in our organisation

This guide, published by Friends of the Earth International, outlines the organisation's zero-tolerance approach to violence and sexual harassment. It provides a conceptual framework based on anti-capitalist feminism and patriarchy analysis, offering practical steps for prevention, recognition of abusive behaviours, and the establishment of reporting and grievance mechanisms within the federation.

• Friends of the Earth International maintains a policy of zero tolerance toward violence and harassment, extending this protection to women and individuals targeted due to ethnicity, nationality, class, economic situation, sexual orientation, gender identity, or physical and mental health needs.
• The organisation defines harassment based on the impact of the behaviour on the recipient rather than the intent of the actor. Violence and sexual harassment are described as tools used to maintain patriarchal power relations and include physical, verbal, and non-verbal conduct that causes a person to feel intimidated, humiliated, or offended.
• To prevent violence and harassment, the guide recommends that organisations implement specific structural measures, including the creation of action protocols based on a five-step process, the appointment of dedicated staff to handle issues, the establishment of permanent grievance committees, and the conduct of risk assessments to identify where patriarchal behaviour is likely to occur.
• The guide categorises recognisable forms of violence and harassment into three types: verbal (such as sexual jokes, rumours, or job-related threats), non-verbal (such as stalking, leering, or undermining a person), and physical (such as non-consensual contact, sexual assault, rape, or deprivation of liberty).
• The organisation advocates for a survivor-centred approach to reporting. If internal structures are unavailable or if senior management is accused, the guide allows for the use of external designated persons of trust and expertise to manage the complaint process.

APA

Friends of the Earth International (n.d.). How we prevent and respond to violence and sexual harassment in our organisation. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/No-to-violence-and-sexual-harassment_manual_Eng.pdf

Chicago

Friends of the Earth International. How we prevent and respond to violence and sexual harassment in our organisation. n.d. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/No-to-violence-and-sexual-harassment_manual_Eng.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Friends of the Earth International |title=How we prevent and respond to violence and sexual harassment in our organisation |url=https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/No-to-violence-and-sexual-harassment_manual_Eng.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{friendsoftheearthinternationalndhow, author = {{Friends of the Earth International}}, title = {{How we prevent and respond to violence and sexual harassment in our organisation}}, institution = {Friends of the Earth International}, url = {https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/No-to-violence-and-sexual-harassment_manual_Eng.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }