NDP leader mistakenly reveals first name of alleged sexual harassment victim to reporter

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This article was published 20/12/2016 (3504 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Interim NDP Leader Flor Marcelino is not only under fire for the conduct of a caucus member accused of sexual harassment but also for how she handled the complaint.

In response to questions by the Free Press Friday, Marcelino released an email that included the first name of NDP MLA Mohinder Saran’s alleged victim. For people who work with victims of sexual harassment and assaults, protecting confidentiality is paramount.

“It is such a sensitive complaint, we want to ensure the privacy of the individual. Certainly, we would want no incidents or information coming back to the individual in the way that they are unprepared… we would also want to ensure there is no form of retribution,” said Rosemarie Gjerek, director of counselling at Klinic, which offers counselling to victims.

Marcelino has apologized for revealing the name of the victim, stating in a prepared statement Monday she thought the Free Press was already aware of the victim’s identity.

“I offered an explanation on this matter and provided the first name of the complainant. I fully believed this information was already shared by sources to the reporter. I apologize,” she said.

A spokeswoman for Vancouver Rape Relief and Women’s Shelter, which is also a member of Canadian Association of Sexual Assault Centres, said privacy is key to making victims of sexual harassment feel safe when they come forward.

“Unless the victim explicitly asked whoever is involved to be revealing her name, privacy should stay completely protected,” said Hilla Kerner. “We know the issue of privacy is very important for women who have experienced sexual harassment. They must be in control of who knows what. Her wishes must be respected.”

The Free Press will not reveal the name of the alleged victim.

The mistake required Marcelino to inform the legislature’s human resources department she had accidentally revealed the victim’s first name.

The NDP has spent the last week defending itself following the revelation Saran, who represents the Maples, has been accused of sexual harassment twice. He was suspended from caucus early last month after the second complaint was lodged. The first allegation occurred when the NDP was in power and the female worker was reassigned to the office of premier Greg Selinger. Saran faced no formal punishment.

The second incident was reported Nov. 7 to the human resources department, which launched an investigation. Marcelino was made aware of the complaint on Oct. 27. NDP officials contend Saran was suspended from attending caucus meetings on Nov. 8, during an emergency caucus meeting. Several independent sources dispute the timeline and insist caucus was not informed until closer to December.

It remains unclear when Marcelino was made aware of the first allegation against Saran, which was before 2015. The party is unable to say who re-assigned the woman or when the complaint was made.

 

Marcelino explicitly told the Free Press Friday she was not aware of the complaint made before 2015, which the Free Press stated in Saturday’s edition. In contrast, NDP press secretary Rachel Morgan told the Free Press Monday Marcelino was informed sometime in November.

Morgan blamed an error in communication between the reporter and Marcelino for the information printed in the Free Press Saturday.

kristin.annable@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @kristinannable