An advertisement launched by Respect Victoria has been designed to unsettle and urge people to call out sexual harassment.

Key points: The ad shows a male bystander stepping in to call out sexual harassment on public transport

The ad shows a male bystander stepping in to call out sexual harassment on public transport Respect Victoria said the number of reported sexual offences rose from 82 to 141 across all Victorian train stations in three years

Respect Victoria said the number of reported sexual offences rose from 82 to 141 across all Victorian train stations in three years The campaigns hopes the ad will teach people about the "big difference" between eye contact and leering

The campaign aims to "empower bystanders" who witness sexual harassment in public places and on transport.

It follows on the first Respect Women: Call It Out campaign, launched in March last year.

During the ad, a woman is seen sitting on a train looking awkwardly away from a man who is continuously staring at her.

A male and female bystander both see what is going on and the man steps in to help.

But, before he does, he ponders if the man staring is even doing anything wrong.

The audience can hear his thoughts out loud as he battles with himself.

"He's creepy. Nah, he's alright," he goes back and forth.

"You can tell she's uncomfortable. It's not a crime to look at someone.

"You know it's not right. Do something."

He finally moves forward to obscure the gazing man's vision and shakes his head.

It's everyone's business

Respect Victoria chair Melanie Eagle said "personal safety in public spaces is everyone's business and every traveller and commuter has the right to reach their destination safely".

Respect Victoria also said that according to the Crime Statistics Agency, from 2015/16 to 2017/18, the number of reported sexual offences — including groping, molesting and rape — at Victorian train stations jumped by 70 per cent (from 82 to 141).

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews shared the video on Twitter and wrote: "This video will make you uncomfortable. It should — because this is what women experience every single day."

"Together, we can change that. How? When blokes stop harassing women, and start respecting women. When blokes stop ignoring this kind of behaviour, and start calling it out," he said.

The campaign's website said it hopes the ad will teach people about the "big difference" between eye contact and leering.