LIVE UPDATES
An advocacy organisation, the Gender Mobile Initiative (GMI), has advocated the need for all tertiary institutions in the country to have an anti-sexual harassment policy to prevent the menace of sexual harassment.
The convener of the group, Barrister Omowumi Ogunrotimi, condemned the prevalence of sexual harassment at institutions of higher learning, warning that it could desecrate the sanctity of the educational system if not promptly arrested.
“One of the negative impacts of the menace of sexual harassment is its adverse effects on mental health of survivors and victims,” she said.
Ogunrotimi spoke on Sunday at a Consultative Policy Dissemination and Implementation Conference of Stakeholders on Sexual Harassment Prevention in Tertiary Education Institutions in Nigeria.
The programme which held in Abuja was organised by GMI in partnership with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.
The event was attended by the ICPC boss, Musa Aliyu; Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman; Minister of State for Education, Tanko Sununu and Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohaneye;
Ogunrotimi urged universities, polytechnics, monotechnics and colleges of education in the country to take advantage of the Anti-Sexual Harassment Policy model for educational institutions developed at the programme
She asked Vice Chancellors, Rectors, and Provosts of institutions to domesticate the model in their respective schools for efficiency in the fight against sexual harassment on campuses.
She noted: “The model policy serves as a guideline for what a comprehensive policy should be for institutions.
"A platform should be set up where students can make reports on sexual harassment and the NANS will ensure that issues bordering on sexual harassment are addressed with support from the President.”
She also suggested that tertiary institutions have complaint and redress desks, co-managed by the NUC legal desk for reports to be objectively investigated.
Speaking on the policy model, she stated: “The policy document has two segments: one for primary and secondary schools and the other for tertiary institutions. The policy is enriched with machinery that can be set in motion as it has a very broad-based definition.
“The policy has 3 main objectives: To sensitize the institution’s community about the ills of sexual harassment and thereby engender collective responsibility for eradicating it; to establish an institutional framework that encourages victims of sexual harassment to exercise their rights, maintain their dignity and resist submission to its pressures; and to take appropriate action to eliminate sexual harassment at the institution level.
“The Basic guiding principles of the policy include compassion, support, and assistance to survivors; fair hearing, support, and inclusion; prompt attention; confidentiality and privacy; protection from retaliation; effective sanctions for policy violation; respect for freedom of expression including academic freedom; and integrity of the academic system.
“On responsibilities for institutions: there should be platforms available to submit reports and there should be no restrictions on how such cases should be reported as there should be room for anonymous reporting and support for victims."
