CURBING SEXUAL HARRASSMENT AGAINST WOMEN IN NIGERIA

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By Olumide T.Agunbiade

                   INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

1.1 INTRODUCTION

Women are always beautiful.  Indeed the Nigerian woman is intricately beautiful and should be cherished like a fragile vessel of very high value. Any wonder why various literary pieces, music and movies extol the virtues of womanhood?

Sadly, women have not always been so favoured especially here in Nigeria. A phenomenon that is now trending is the issue of sexual harassment.

Like a flea, it has sucked deep into what remains of the Nigerian fluid. Indeed, the very endemic nature of this scourge threatens to wipe off any vestige of our moral fiber as Nigerians.

The Nigerian story merely echoes a historical trend. From Adam who openly blamed his wife for his sin of disobedience to God to the married man who batters a woman, gender based violence has festered.

 A number of men either verbally or by actions subscribe to Aristotle's view that a woman is an unfinished man or therefore stands on a lower plane of development.

1.2 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

In many societies of the world today, women face a lot of abuses resulting from their gender. Such abuses ranges from mild  social discrimination, whether at home, the church or school to outright sexual harrassment which women experience both as individuals  and as groups.

The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language defines sexual harassment as "The making of unwanted and offensive sexual advances or sexually offensive remarks or acts, especially by one in supervisory position or when acquiescence to such behaviour is a condition of continued employment, promotion, or satisfactory evaluation".

Another online encyclopaedia defines the practice as "intimidation, bullying or coercion of a sexual nature, or the unwelcome or inappropriate promise of rewards in exchange for sexual favours". It adds that such behaviour may range from seemingly mild transgressions and annoyances to actual sexual abuse or sexual assault (Wikipedia).

The above definitions are by no means exhaustive as daily various forms of unacceptable sexual behaviour are birthed. These range from outright coercion or rape to subtler yet shamelessly repulsive action, unwelcome touches, lewd remarks and lascivious stares.

In recent times, a growing number of women have entered the job market and this to some unscrupulous men mean more sexual preys to descend on. Considering the very real fact that jobs are hard to come by, many women would rather endure a daily torture than opt out of a job where a supervisor or employer haunts them sexually.

Others suffer in silence because of the fear of stigmatization, lack of awareness of legal rights and in extreme cases actual rejection by family members and community. Others also fear that little will be accomplished by reporting as those who are supposed to protect often turn out to be the perpetrators of heinous crimes.

 For example in November 2006 Dr. Kolawole Olaniyan of Amnesty International, noted: "The harsh reality is that if you are a woman or a girl in Nigeria who has suffered the terrible experience of being raped, your suffering is likely to be met with intimidation by the police, indifference from the state and the knowledge that the perpetrator is unlikely to ever face justice."

Most recently the Punch Newspaper of April 15, 2014 in its editorial carried the unsavoury story of a monarch who allegedly raped a youth corps member. Commendably, in this case though, the "victim" spoke up. These examples show clearly why many would rather swear the oath of silence.

Further because a number of victims are reluctant to report to authorities, there is a dearth of data to aid human rights activist in curbing the menace.

The effect of sexual harassment can be so traumatic. In fact child psychologists have warned that without proper counselling, children who have been raped of innocent may suffer life-long trauma and deep emotional scars which may fester and led to clinically depressed and socially unstable adults.

Considering the socio-economic and moral contributions of women to the society, one Nigerian child/woman raped of innocence is one too many. All considered, one wonders if any solution is in sight.

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