Background on #Metoo in China
The issue of sexual harassment and the #MeToo movement in
mainland China has burst into the spotlight again recently.
Demonstrators defied restrictions on public protests and mass
gatherings to collect outside a Beijing court in December in
support of Zhou Xiaoxuan ("Zhou"), a
young woman bringing a claim of sexual misconduct against Zhu Jun
("Zhu"), a well-known television
presenter. Such cases are relatively rare and the high-profile
nature of the man accused has resulted in significant attention
within China and beyond. The timing coincides with the new PRC
Civil Code taking effect on 1 January 2021. Article 1010 of the
Civil Code establishes important new principles on what constitutes
sexual harassment, expands the scope of recipients to include men,
and introduces specific obligations and potential liability for
employers in this area.
