Democratic lawmakers seek to improve anti-harassment, assault, and retaliation policies at the State Department.
The State Harassment and Assault Prevention and Eradication (SHAPE) Act of 2020, introduced Wednesday by Reps. Joaquin Castro of Texas, Jackie Speier of California, and Eliot Engel of New York, would develop a policy on the prevention and response to harassment and discrimination issues, establish an “Office of Employee Advocacy” to assist victims, and implement a 24/7 hotline.
Semiannual surveys of the department’s workplace culture and an annual report to Congress regarding any claims, disciplinary actions, and the overall climate would also be required.
The summary of the legislation cites an open letter signed by over 200 women in 2017 who said they experienced, or know someone who experienced sexual harassment or assault within the department. The letter was signed by current and former diplomats, civil servants, service members, and development workers, and called for stronger sexual harassment reporting, mandatory training, and exterior data collection on how often these issues occur.
“The institutions to which we belong, or have served, all have sexual harassment policies in place,” the letter, shared with TIME Magazine, reads. “Yet, these policies are weak, under enforced, and can favor perpetrators. The existence of policies, even good ones, is not enough.”
The State Department has not commented on the legislation, but told CNN the department takes “any and all allegations of discrimination or harassment extremely seriously.”
The department also encouraged those who feel they are a victim of discrimination or harassment to file an Equal Employment Opportunity complaint through its Office of Civil Rights.
“Any act of harassment violates our basic values of respect for the individual and will not be tolerated,” the spokesperson said. “Acts of harassment not only erode the moral integrity of the Department, but threaten our mission of promoting and demonstrating our democratic values to advance a free, peaceful, and prosperous world.”
