Sexual harassment, assault and rape is extremely difficult to talk about, particularly if you’re a crew member far from your usual support networks. It is common for crew to keep incidents of sexual harassment or assault to themselves because of fears over job security or worries that they won’t be believed.
Although challenging, talking to a trusted friend or colleague can really help you to process what has happened and may help you take steps towards recovering. At Yacht Crew Help we are here to provide non-judgemental and confidential support, 24 hours a day if you want to talk about an incident, whenever it took place.
Guidance on Eliminating Shipboard Harassment and Bullying jointly published by the International Chamber of Shipping and the International Transport Workers’ Federation (available for download below), provides useful advice on how your employer should handle reports of sexual harassment and assault.
The Survivors Self Help Guide is for survivors or rape or sexual abuse who want to understand and process their own personal reactions to their experience. When you have suffered rape or sexual abuse it can affect how you think, how you feel, how you behave and how you see the world, and everyone's experience is different. The guide is available in English (including an easy-read format), Polish, Chinese, Arabic and Somali, and there are also versions specifically for male survivors and supporters (i.e. family/friends of sexual violence survivors). You can download all versions of the guide here: survivorsnetwork.org.uk/resource/survivors-self-help-guide.
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