We can encounter humiliation almost everywhere – at school, at work, at home, in hospital or on the internet. It is a violation of basic human rights. In this article, we look at the different forms of humiliation in more detail and give you advice on how to defend yourself against it.
Humiliation is when a person is subjected to behaviour that degrades them , renders them powerless, undermines their personal integrity or undermines their social worth and self-esteem. Humiliation can take different forms:
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Humiliation is considered a violation of human dignity, which is protected by international and domestic law. It is specifically dealt with, for example:
Here we find information that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. It also mentions the prohibition of torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.
The Charter states that all human beings are free and equal in dignity and rights. It also states that no one shall be subjected to torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and everyone has the right to the protection of his or her dignity, personal honour, reputation and name.
Prohibits specific forms of humiliation. For example:
Other laws prohibiting specific types of humiliation include, for example, the Anti-Discrimination Act or the Labour Code.
Slander is also related to humiliation. When is it a criminal offence and how do I defend myself? The answers can be found in the next article.
Anyone can face humiliation in a wide range of situations and settings:
One of the most common places where you can face humiliating treatment is in the workplace. This is where you may face bullying from your superiors (bossing) or colleagues (mobbing), for example in the form of public criticism, ridicule or ignoring.
Humiliation at work can also take a less visible form, for example when you are given meaningless tasks to undermine your authority or when you are treated unfairly. Humiliation also includes situations where employers create undignified working conditions, for example, through disproportionate workloads or condoning bullying among employees.
You can read more about mobbing and bossing and when it is a criminal offence in our article.
At school, you may encounter bullying from classmates in particular. But you may also experience humiliating behaviour from teachers, for example, in the form of public criticism, ridicule or biased evaluation.
The very attitude of some schools can also be humiliating, overlooking the needs of disadvantaged students or creating an environment where students feel invisible and unappreciated.
Unfortunately, you don’t have to avoid humiliation even in the safety of your own home. It is common for a partner to humiliate, ridicule, gaslight, over-control, manipulate or psychologically abuse a victim, gradually stripping them of their self-esteem and their ability to make free choices.
Humiliation does not escape parental upbringing. Children may be put down by their parents, punished in humiliating ways. Often, children are also not respected and their emotions and opinions are not taken into account. All of this can have a negative impact on their psychological development as a result.
Similarly, older people may experience humiliating treatment from family members. This often manifests itself in neglect, underestimation or lack of care.
How (not only) psychological abuse manifests itself in a relationship, when abuse becomes a crime and what you can do if you find yourself in the role of a victim. Find out in the next article.
Many people experience feelings of humiliation when dealing with offices, post offices and similar establishments. Officials sometimes treat people in a condescending, arrogant or simply dismissive manner.
Similarly, you may be subjected to humiliation in restaurants, shops or when using public transport (for example, if you are unfairly judged on the basis of your appearance, age or social status).
One of the most serious types of humiliation is when it is carried out by state institutions themselves. You may be subjected to humiliating treatment by the police, the authorities or the courts, especially if you belong to disadvantaged groups.
Healthcare is an area where respect for human dignity should be a given, but unfortunately the reality is sometimes different. As a patient, you may encounter arrogant or unempathic attitudes from doctors and medical staff, a lack of communication about your condition or the downplaying of your pain.
While modern technology has opened up new avenues of communication, it has also created space for cyberbullying and public humiliation. Online, you can easily be subjected to offensive comments, social media embarrassment or targeted bullying that can disrupt your personal and professional life.
First of all, it pays to speak out against humiliation. Sometimes the attacker may not even be aware that they are humiliating you. If this doesn’t work, we recommend taking your problem to a third party.
In the case of workplace humiliation, you can contact your supervisor, HR department or the union. In a school setting, you can contact a teacher, school psychologist or the school administration. In a family setting, family therapy or consultation with a professional may be the solution.
If these options are not available, the humiliation continues or escalates into psychological or physical violence, legal action and official channels should be involved:
The workplace is a place where humiliation in the form of bullying (mobbing), abuse of power by a superior (bossing) or discrimination can occur. If your employer fails to address workplace bullying or engages in discriminatory behaviour itself, you can contact the Labour Inspectorate.
The complaint should include a description of the specific humiliation, the timeframe and, if possible, evidence (emails, testimony from colleagues, etc.). The Labour Inspectorate will carry out an investigation and may order the employer to make amends or impose a fine.
If discrimination is involved, you can also go to the ombudsman or take legal action to claim compensation or an apology.
We have discussed in detail how to defend yourself against discrimination in the workplace in our article.
In schools, humiliation can occur between pupils (bullying) but also by teachers or other school staff. If the school does not address the problem, parents or students can contact the Czech School Inspectorate. If it is criminal activity (e.g. physical bullying or cyberbullying), a criminal complaint can be filed with the Czech Police.
Humiliation in the online space often manifests itself through cyberbullying, spreading rumours or public ridicule on social media.
First, it is advisable to report inappropriate content directly to the platform administrator, who can remove the content or block the attacker.
If the humiliation is long-lasting or includes threats, stalking or disclosure of sensitive data, it is advisable to keep evidence (screenshots, emails) and file a criminal complaint with the Czech Police.
If someone publicly spreads derogatory or false information, you can defend yourself with a personality protection action.
First, you can ask the offender to apologise and retract the false statements. If the challenge does not help, you can take legal action in court and seek a public apology or financial compensation.
If the humiliation is accompanied by physical violence, psychological abuse or threats, it may be classified as a criminal offence.
In this case, a criminal complaint should be filed with the police. If it is domestic violence, the institution of eviction of the perpetrator from the home can be used. In all cases, it is worth gathering as much relevant evidence as possible (e.g. witnesses, medical reports).
We will be happy to help you file a lawsuit and a criminal complaint. With our help, you will be sure that you have done everything correctly and minimise the risk of a criminal charge being dropped or an unsuccessful prosecution.
Humiliation is a situation where a person is subjected to behaviour that degrades them , impairs their personal integrity or self-esteem. Humiliation is a violation of fundamental human rights protected by international law (e.g. the Universal Declaration of Human Rights) and Czech law (e.g. the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms, the Criminal Code).
You can encounter humiliation in the workplace, at school, in partner relationships, in public space, in the legal and institutional system, in the health sector or on the internet. Humiliation should be defended by making a clear stand, contacting the authorities or taking legal action such as complaining to the labour inspectorate or other official institutions, depending on the environment where the humiliation is taking place.
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