1.1.2 Principles of defining sexual harassment/exploitation

• The subjective perception of the recipient of the behaviour in question is foremost in determining whether an act constitutes sexual exploitation.
• Sexual exploitation involves intentional abuse of power one has over the ‘exploited’.
• Sexual exploitation can be direct or indirect, manifested in terms of words, gestures, non-verbal cues and physical force.
• Sexual exploitation and abuse is often seen as a ‘women’s issue’, with women being seen as victims and men as perpetrators. Sexual exploitation is an issue that concerns both men and women equally.