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Introduction

Meiji Academy is committed to providing a safe environment for all its students and teachers, free from discrimination and harassment. Meiji Academy operates a zero-tolerance policy for any form of sexual harassment in the school, treats all incidents seriously, and promptly investigates all allegations of sexual harassment. Meiji Academy does not tolerate any type of discrimination or harassment against any person, may it be by fellow students, teachers, or other people attending our school facilities. We fiercely oppose any misconduct and malevolent behavior targeted by teachers or fellow students and will take the necessary steps to target the problem. Any person found to have performed severe hate speech, physically assaulted, or sexually harassed another person will face severe disciplinary actions, up to dismissal from school, and legal persecution, if applicable.

Discrimination in Japan

Discrimination is the unjust and prejudicial treatment of people based on ethnicity, religion, sex, age, disability, or ideological views. Discrimination occurs anywhere in the world and is not exclusive to any society. In Japan, racial discrimination in particular is officially prohibited by law and dealt with as a punishable crime. However, the importance lies in if it can be proven and if it was really racially motivated or not. If you feel that you might have experienced discrimination in your daily life or at our school premises, you can always consult us.

What is Sexual Harassment?

Sexual harassment is unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature, which makes a person feel offended, humiliated, or intimidated. It includes situations where a person is asked to engage in sexual activity, as well as situations that create a hostile, intimidating, or humiliating environment for the recipient. Sexual harassment can involve one or more incidents and actions constituting harassment may be physical, verbal, or non-verbal.

Different Forms of Sexual Harassment

The following conduct or behavior constitutes sexual harassment:

Physical conduct

  • Unwelcome physical contact including patting, pinching, stroking, kissing, hugging, fondling, or inappropriate touching
  • Physical violence, including sexual assault
  • Physical contact, e.g. touching, pinching
  • The use of job-related threats or rewards to solicit sexual favors

Verbal conduct

  • Comments on a student’s appearance, age, private life, etc.
  • Sexual comments, stories, and jokes
  • Sexual advances
  • Repeated and unwanted social invitations for dates or physical intimacy
  • Insults based on the sex of the person
  • Condescending or paternalistic remarks
  • Sending sexually explicit messages (by phone or by email)

Non-verbal conduct

  • Display of sexually explicit or suggestive material
  • Sexually-suggestive gestures
  • Whistling
  • Leering

If It Happens To You

Meiji Academy encourages its students to promptly and accurately address any mistreatment and malevolent behavior that happened to them on our premises. We will investigate and address the issue in a timely manner. Please make sure to explain in detail to any of our staff members the following details.

  1. What did exactly happen?
  2. When did it happen? (time & date)
  3. Where did it happen?
  4. Is there any proof of the accusations? (messages, photos, video, etc.)
  5. Were there any witnesses that could verify the claims?

To omit any type of false or inaccurate accusations, it is necessary to talk to both parties involved in this incident to solve the issue in a proper manner. We will not tolerate retaliation against students who make good-faith reports of crime or violations of policy. When a complainant does not consent to the disclosure of their name or other identifiable information to the alleged perpetrator, the school's ability to respond to the complaint may be limited. If you think one of the above cases applies to you, please don’t hesitate to contact us: info@meijiacademy.com