Women in northeast China's Liaoning province will soon have better protection against sexual harassment.

New rules taking effect next month ban provocative hints of sex in any form, ranging from "dirty" mobile phone messages to physical contact in public places, including offices, in the latest attempt by provincial legislatures to stop sexual harassment.

Shanghai, as well as Henan and Hebei provinces, have already drawn up additional rules.

"We don't declare to everyone that we are sexually harassed," said Tracy Zhu, a 25-year-old woman from Fujian province, adding she had been harassed at least five times either on buses or on the street.

"The most disgusting part about it is that you know they do it against your will but it just seems you can't do anything about it," she said.

A survey conducted last year by the All-China Women's Federation showed nearly 30 percent of women in Beijing have encountered men who exposed themselves in public or have been physically assaulted.

The last legal change on a national scale, made almost four years ago, only stipulated "sexual harassment against women is forbidden" and granted victims the right to ask for police and court action.

It didn't provide a national definition.

"A national law like that is far from complete," said Song Jihu, a Beijing-based lawyer who often deals with civil cases.

"It is not powerful enough to scare off men who attempt to take advantage of women."

Other examples, like male bosses harassing female employees, is harder to define, he said. The issue often gets tangled with sexual or job discrimination.

"My colleague was once asked whether she would spend a vacation with her boss," said Wang Xiaolu, a 30-year-old white-collar worker in Beijing. "She refused immediately, and the boss eventually made her quit her job."

(China Daily May 11, 2009)