Breastfeeding women would be protected from harassment under a recently published bill by the Hong Kong government. The bill — which would amend the Sexual Discrimination Ordinance (Cap 480) (SDO) — will be introduced on 12 Feb 2020 into the Legislative Council. The protection of breastfeeding women is one of eight priority recommendations flagged by the Equal Opportunities Commission. Parliament first considered measures in the Discrimination Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 2018 — the new bill reflects parliamentary scrutiny. 

Highlights

• Expanded definition of harassment to include both sexual harassment and harassment of breastfeeding women
• Additional section clarifying what constitutes harassment on the grounds of breastfeeding
• Changes to ensure that other SDO references to sexual harassment also cover harassment of breastfeeding women  

Related resources

• Sex Discrimination (Amendment) Bill 2020 (Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, 31 Jan 2020)
• Press release (The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, 31 Jan 2020)
• Press release (Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau, 30 Nov 2018)
• Cap. 480 Sex Discrimination Ordinance (Hong Kong e-legislation, 27 May 2016)