Best Sexual Harassment Lawyers in Modave

About Sexual Harassment Law in Modave, Belgium

Sexual harassment is unlawful in Belgium and protections apply in Modave just as they do across the country. The law covers unwelcome sexual behavior that affects a person’s dignity or creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating, or offensive environment. It can be verbal, nonverbal, physical, or digital and it can occur at work, in education, in housing, in public spaces, and online.

In the workplace, sexual harassment is addressed both as a form of discrimination and as a psychosocial risk at work. Belgium’s labor and anti discrimination laws impose strict duties on employers to prevent and stop harassment, provide internal procedures to handle complaints, and protect workers from retaliation. Outside the workplace, the Criminal Code prohibits various sexually motivated behaviors including harassment, threats, non consensual sexual acts, image based abuse, and related offenses. Victims can seek help through internal workplace procedures, civil courts, labor courts, and the police and prosecutor’s office.

Modave is within the judicial and policing structures of the Province of Liège. Local police can take criminal complaints and refer matters to the Prosecutor of Huy. Work related disputes are handled by the Labour Court in the Liège judicial district. Free or low cost victim support and legal aid services are available.

Why You May Need a Lawyer

A lawyer can help you identify which laws apply to your situation, choose the right procedure, and protect your rights. People seek legal help when they face persistent unwelcome comments, touching, requests for sexual favors tied to work benefits, degrading messages, distribution of intimate images without consent, or harassment in public or online. Legal advice is also important if you fear retaliation for speaking up, if internal workplace steps did not resolve the problem, if you are contemplating a police complaint, or if you are being accused and need to respond properly.

Workers, interns, agency workers, self employed contractors, students, tenants, and patrons of bars or venues can all be protected in different ways. A lawyer can coordinate with your employer’s prevention services, help you file a formal psychosocial complaint, preserve evidence, request protective measures, negotiate a settlement, or bring a claim in labor or civil court. If the behavior may be criminal, a lawyer can assist with reporting to police, applying for victim status, and claiming compensation in the criminal process.

Local Laws Overview

Belgian anti discrimination legislation prohibits sexual harassment as a form of discrimination on the ground of sex or gender. The Gender Act of 10 May 2007 and related anti discrimination laws allow victims to seek cessation of harassment, damages, and other remedies. The burden of proof can shift to the defendant when the victim shows facts suggesting harassment. Retaliation against someone who asserts their rights is prohibited.

Workplace well being legislation requires employers to prevent psychosocial risks, including violence and moral or sexual harassment. Under the Act of 4 August 1996 on Well being at Work and the Code for Well being at Work, every employer must implement a prevention policy, appoint a prevention advisor specialized in psychosocial aspects, and make confidential and formal procedures available. An informal path allows for advice and possible mediation. A formal psychosocial complaint triggers an independent investigation, after which the employer must decide on measures within set timeframes. Workers who file a formal complaint about violence or harassment benefit from protection against dismissal and adverse treatment, and witnesses may also be protected.

In criminal law, Belgium punishes a range of behaviors that often overlap with sexual harassment, including stalking and harassment, threats, sexual offenses where consent is central, voyeurism, exhibitionism, coercion, and the non consensual distribution of intimate images. The Sexual Criminal Law was modernized in 2022, making it clearer that non consensual sexual behavior in physical or digital spaces can be an offense. Depending on the facts, police in Modave can take a statement and the Prosecutor of Huy can open an investigation.

Available remedies include internal corrective measures at work, protective arrangements such as changes in reporting lines or work location, injunctions to stop unlawful conduct, damages for material and moral harm, reinstatement or compensation in employment cases, and criminal penalties for offenders. Labour courts in the Liège district handle employment related harassment and discrimination cases. Civil courts can issue injunctions and award damages. Criminal courts deal with offenses and can award victim compensation as part of the criminal case.

Evidence can include contemporaneous notes, emails, messages, photos, medical certificates, and witness accounts. Be careful with secret recordings, as privacy rules apply and unlawfully obtained evidence can create separate risks. Ask a lawyer before using covert methods to gather proof.

Frequently Asked Questions

What counts as sexual harassment under Belgian law

It is any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature, whether verbal, nonverbal, physical, or online, that has the purpose or effect of violating a person’s dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating, or offensive environment. This includes persistent sexual remarks, unwanted touching, requests for sexual favors, sexually explicit messages, and circulating intimate images without consent.

Does it have to happen at work to be illegal

No. Workplace sexual harassment is specifically regulated, but similar conduct can also be unlawful under criminal law or civil law in schools, housing, public places, and online. The appropriate procedure and forum will depend on where and how it happened.

Who can I contact in my workplace in Modave

You can contact your employer’s prevention advisor specialized in psychosocial aspects or a designated person of trust. You may seek an informal psychosocial intervention or file a formal psychosocial complaint. You can also speak with your union representative and consult a lawyer at any time.

Can my employer retaliate if I report sexual harassment

No. Retaliation is prohibited. Workers who file a formal psychosocial complaint about violence or moral or sexual harassment benefit from special protection against dismissal. If an employer breaches this protection, a lump sum indemnity may be owed, in addition to other remedies.

What evidence should I gather

Write down what happened with dates, times, places, and names of witnesses. Save emails, messages, and screenshots. Preserve any medical records. Keep communications with HR or the prevention advisor. Discuss with a lawyer before making recordings or accessing data that might infringe privacy or company policies.

How long do I have to act

Time limits vary. Discrimination claims typically have several years to be filed, but certain employment actions and internal procedures have shorter deadlines. Criminal complaints are subject to limitation periods that depend on the offense. Speak to a lawyer promptly to avoid missing cutoffs.

Should I go to the police or use the workplace procedure

You can do both. If a crime may have been committed, you can report to local police in Modave. At the same time, you can use the internal psychosocial procedure to stop the behavior at work and to obtain protective measures. A lawyer can coordinate these tracks to avoid conflicts.

What happens after a formal psychosocial complaint

An independent prevention advisor conducts an investigation, interviews parties and witnesses, and issues a report. The employer must decide on measures within legal timelines and inform the parties. Measures can range from warnings to changes in organization or disciplinary action. Confidentiality rules apply to protect those involved.

Can I obtain compensation

Yes. Courts can award damages for material losses and moral harm. In discrimination cases, the law provides for lump sum damages that are often set at a multiple of monthly pay, or you can prove actual loss. In criminal cases, you can claim civil compensation from the offender as part of the proceedings.

Am I protected if I am an intern, temporary agency worker, or student

Yes. Protection covers not only employees, but also many categories such as interns, agency workers, and in some cases self employed contractors and students in vocational settings. The exact route may differ, so seek legal advice to choose the right procedure and forum.

Additional Resources

Local Police Zone Condroz serving Modave for reporting criminal harassment or related offenses.

Prosecutor’s Office of Huy for criminal investigations and victim status guidance.

Labour Court of Liège, Division Huy for employment disputes involving harassment or discrimination.

FPS Employment, Labour and Social Dialogue for information on psychosocial risks and inspections.

Institute for the Equality of Women and Men for support and information on gender based harassment and discrimination.

Unia for discrimination support in areas outside gender where relevant.

Sexual Assault Care Centre at CHU de Liège for medical care, forensic examination, and psychosocial support after sexual violence.

Victim Support Services in the Province of Liège for confidential assistance and accompaniment.

Bureau d’Aide Juridique de Liège for information on free or subsidized legal aid.

External Prevention and Protection Services at Work if your employer outsources psychosocial support.

Next Steps

If you are in immediate danger, contact emergency services. Seek medical care as soon as possible if any physical contact occurred, ideally at a Sexual Assault Care Centre where forensic evidence can be preserved even if you are not ready to file a complaint.

Write down what happened, save messages and emails, and identify any witnesses. Do not delete content or hand over original devices without advice. Consider changing passwords and tightening privacy settings if online harassment is involved.

At work, speak with the person of trust or the prevention advisor about an informal approach or file a formal psychosocial complaint if the situation is serious or ongoing. Ask about interim protective measures, such as changes in reporting lines or schedules.

Consult a lawyer experienced in harassment cases in the Liège area. Bring your chronology, evidence, employment documents, and any prior complaints. A lawyer can assess civil, labor, and criminal options, explain timelines, and represent you in negotiations and proceedings. If cost is a concern, ask about legal aid eligibility.

If the behavior may be criminal, file a report with the local police in Modave. You can also apply to be recognized as a victim and later claim compensation in the criminal process. Your lawyer can liaise with the Prosecutor of Huy and help protect your privacy interests.

Throughout the process, use local victim support and medical services. You do not need to go through this alone. Early advice often prevents escalation and strengthens your case.