Half of Maltese women have experienced sexual harassment, even when they were just 15 years old, a study has found.

The number was close to the European Union average, the study noted. From 83 to 102 million women across the EU said they experienced harassment.

The risk of sexual harassment for younger women was higher than the average for women over 40 years of age, Equality Minister Helena Dalli said. The study found those aged between 18 and 29 faced twice the risk of being threatened or subjected to unwanted advances than their counterparts over 40.

Dr Dalli was speaking at a conference on sexual harassment at the workplace and within the social context organised by the National Commission for the Promotion of Equality.

She said the study confirmed that women in high positions faced greater discrimination and chances of sexual harassment.

Over 75 per cent of women in top managerial positions experienced sexual harassment, as against 44 per cent of women involved in skilled manual work and 41 per cent of those who had never had a paid job.

Insisting that harassment violated a person's dignity, Dr Dalli said it was also conducive to an intimidating, hostile, degrading and humiliating environment.

Despite legislation aimed at protecting women from sexual harassment, 35 per cent of respondents in the study did not feel comfortable reporting their experiences, she said.

Dr Dalli noted that only four per cent of the victims had reported abuse to the police.

There needed to be greater awareness on sexual harassment so that victims would feel more comfortable reaching out, the minister insisted.

Lawyer Lara Dimitrijevic said just one per cent of victims in Malta opened up to a lawyer, a victim support organisation or trade union representative.

She said a woman who was a member of the police force felt she could not report her boss.

This showed even police officers struggled to enforce and follow the law, Dr Dimitrijevic said.