... seek stringent legislation on ending sex related offences
By Chisimdi Esther
Leaders of Civil Society Organizations, Human Rights Advocates, Educationists and Media Practitioners have demanded an unbiased and transparent investigation over allegation of sexual harassment levelled against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, member representing Kogi Central at the senate.
They urged the committee probing the matter to eschew sentiments and emotions in ensuring that justice prevailed for either Akpabio or Natasha, in the overall interest of the nation.
The stakeholders made the call at a one-day roundtable meeting on Tackling Sexual Harassment Epidemic in Nigeria, organised by Baobab for Women's Right, a feminist and human rights organisation, held in Abuja on Thursday.
Photo: Group photograph of stakeholders at the meeting
They also urged federal government, state governors and members of the National and State Assembly to prioritize formulation of stringent policies and legislations to combat sexual harassment prevalence.
Maryam Mukatar, Executive Director, Gender Mobile Initiative, Moriyo Shuaibu, Executive Director, Voices Beyond Silence Initiative for Justice and Empowerment, Collins Osuji, Media Adviser, SHE PERSIST Coalition, South East, Nigeria, Dr. Adeyanju Temitope Peter of the University of Abuja, among others at the meeting expressed concern over lack of law or provision in the national legislation prohibiting sexual harassment in workplaces in Nigeria.
They equally tasked management of learning institutions, private and public parastatals to put in place mechanisms that would effectively check or address the menace.
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Earlier in her address, Baobab Executive Director, Yeye Bunmi Dipo-Salami described sexual harassment in Nigeria as an epidemic which affects socio-economic lives of the citizens, insisting that urgent measures should be taken to save Nigerian society from further decadence caused by the menace.
She also canvassed for equitable representation of women in political and leadership positions, stressing that such would enhance efforts on tackling the scourge.
Dipo-Salami further appeal to state and non-state actors, including the Police, media, community and religious leaders, to support and contribute to efforts aimed at curbing sex offences and gender based violence prevalence in the country.
Others at the meeting were managements and representatives of International and national feminist organizations, Human Rights groups, key media organisations and tertiary institutions in the country.
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