In principle, if you feel that you are being harassed then you can assume that this is probably the case.
Harassment is not the fault of the victim; it is important that you do not blame yourself or tolerate harassment but act to find a solution before the situation gets any worse.
The perpetrator may be unaware that they are causing discomfort to you or the people around them. If possible, let them know that you are uncomfortable.
Please consult with a trustworthy confidante before the situation becomes serious.
If you wish to consult with the Harassment Prevention Committee, we will arrange an interview. Interviews are by appointment only.
| I want to consult with someone | There is no central consultation service desk for harassment at Keio University. This is because each person who wishes to avail of consultation will have their own particular circumstances, which may include that: 1. They wish to speak to a person with whom they are as familiar as possible 2. They wish to consult with the person in charge of their affiliated section 3. They wish to consult with a third party who is unconnected to their affiliated section 4. They wish to consult with an external organization Please avail of the consultation service which most suits your particular needs. During consultation, you may be encouraged to speak to the Harassment Prevention Committee. ▶ Harassment may be difficult for any parties other than those directly implicated to understand. If you have experienced harassment (or believe you may have experienced it), maintaining a detailed record of when this occurred and the person(s) involved can go some way to objectively determining the circumstances and working towards their solution at a later date. Whether or not you show this to others, it is advisable to keep as accurate a record as possible. ▶ In emergency situations (where you may be at risk of bodily harm), please contact the police immediately. |
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| I would like to consult with the Harassment Prevention Committee | The Harassment Prevention Committee provides consultation for persons affiliated with Keio University in some capacity. Counselors on the Harassment Prevention Committee are subject to a duty of confidentiality. The fact that a consultation has taken place and the contents of such consultations will not be disclosed or divulged to outside parties without the consent of the person availing of the consultation. Please make an appointment for an interview using the reservation form. Several counselors from the campus jurisdiction where the interview will take place will field the consultation. ▶ In emergency situations (where you may be at risk of bodily harm), please contact the police immediately. |
If the harassment has occurred over a long period of time and cannot be resolved through individual consultation or other means, you may request mediation.
Mediation can take the following forms:
(1) An Investigation Committee will be established to carry out a hearing investigation on request for an investigation to the director (department head, dean, section chief, principal, chief administrator, etc.) of the affiliated section (workplace, faculty, school, etc.) of the parties involved in the claim. The Chairperson of the Harassment Prevention Committee may participate as an observer on the Investigation Committee. The Harassment Prevention Committee will provide the necessary information, case studies, etc., through the affiliated sections from an impartial standpoint.
(2) If the sections to which the parties involved in the claim are affiliated differ, an Investigation Committee will be established upon the formal acceptance of an Official Allegation following interviews (consultation) with the Harassment Prevention Committee, with the Chairperson of the Harassment Prevention Committee appointed as the Investigation Chairperson and the committee members selected from the Harassment Prevention Committee.
(3) If the party availing of consultation with the Harassment Prevention Committee requests mediation without wishing to report the harassment to the head of their affiliated organization, the Chairperson of the Harassment Prevention Committee will directly contact the parties concerned and proceed with the mediation process without contacting the director of their affiliated organization. The outcomes of mediation will be reported to both parties to the claim at an interview. In addition, the outcomes will be reported to the organization head for the relevant sections of the parties to the claim, and the organization head will be asked to respond, as needs dictate. If the parties to the claim or related persons do not wish for their names, etc., to be shared, the progress of the fact-finding survey and the outcomes of the mediation alone will be reported to the head of the organization for the sections concerned, with names omitted.
If you have been consulted by a colleague or acquaintance about harassment at Keio University, please first listen sincerely and advise them to directly and promptly contact a consultation service if necessary.
The Harassment Prevention Committee may only consult with persons directly involved in the situation. It is not possible to consult with persons acting on behalf of a colleague, acquaintance, or family member, etc.
| While I am unsure if what has happened constitutes harassment, is it still possible to avail of a consultation? | A decisive factor in harassment is subjective emotion, as indicated in the definition of harassment as “Verbal behaviors or acts against the will of the receiving party.” As emotional responses are subject to individual variations, it is natural that particular verbal behaviors or acts may be perceived as harassment by the person at whom they are directed, even if another person may not perceive them as such. Please request consultation with the harassment committee to find a method to address the disadvantages which have arisen because of this situation, rather than worrying about whether or not harassment has taken place. |
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| Is it unacceptable to speak to others about the fact that I have availed of a consultation? | At the consultation stage, there is no duty of confidentiality for the person availing of the consultation You may consult on the matter outside the harassment committee; however, spreading information may make matters more difficult to resolve depending on the particulars of the case. In this case, we may advise that you do not say anything further. |
| I wish to avail of a consultation but I am not looking to pursue an Official Allegation. Is this still acceptable? | Of course. If you will feel reassured or get some satisfaction from speaking to somebody about the situation, the matter will be temporarily closed, although you can also choose to avail of further consultations at a later date. An Official Allegation will be necessitated if you seek a specific response to the situation. |
| Can I avail of a consultation even after graduation or leaving my post? | It is still possible to avail of consultations if the person(s) involved in the verbal behaviors or acts which were perceived as harassment remain(s) affiliated with Keio University and you continue to be disadvantaged by the harassment; however, it may be more difficult to confirm the facts of the case due to the passing of years. We recommend that you avail of a consultation as soon as possible if circumstances allow. |
| Can I avail of a consultation if I am not the person who has been harassed? | If you have witnessed harassment or have been consulted on harassment, you should recommend to the person concerned that they consult with the harassment committee directly. This is due to the need to respect their wishes and privacy. |