The University of Malta is investigating a sexual harassment report made by a law student who claimed one of her lecturers overstepped the limit.

“The University of Malta takes any report of sexual harassment and sexual abuse seriously and investigates these rigorously. To this effect, the University Council had designed strict regulations that are to be followed in cases of such investigations… The report on sexual harassment mentioned in the media is being investigated according to these procedures,” the university said.

The University of Malta takes any report of sexual harassment and sexual abuse seriously

The statement was issued after Nationalist Party newspaper In-Nazzjon reported that a law student claimed that she had been the victim of sexual abuse.

But, in the statement, the university made it clear that this was a case of alleged sexual harassment and not abuse. The university added that it went against its policy to comment on individual cases but said the sexual harassment policy had been followed.

When contacted, university pro-rector Mary Anne Lauri did not wish to divulge any details about the case in question.

However, she said she was concerned that the unwarranted media attention given to the case could deter people from coming forward and reporting harassment since confidentiality was important in such cases.

The university policy outlines that sexual harassment includes unwelcome physical contact, suggestive jokes, unwanted invitations and intrusive questions among other things.

A staff member or student who feels they have been a victim of sexual harassment, and who wanted to file a complaint, could opt for a formal or informal procedure.

In the latter case, the alleged abuse is reported to a purposely-appointed sexual harassment advisor who hears out the two sides and draws up a resolution that would be signed by both parties.

A copy of the signed resolution is kept by the advisor for six years after which it is destroyed.

In the case of formal proceedings, a lecturer found to have committed sexual harassment could face disciplinary proceedings that could include reprimand, suspension without pay and dismissal. Anyone found falsely claiming harassment would face the same measures.

A lecturer facing harassment claims is not suspended during the proceedings.

It is up to the victim to decide whether to involve police but the police are always brought in if the victim is a minor.

Questions sent to the police about this particular case remained unanswered by the time of writing.