The Senate has passed the Sexual Harassment
Bill which is to stop sexual abuse of female undergraduates in tertiary
institutions in the country.
Bill which is to stop sexual abuse of female undergraduates in tertiary
institutions in the country.
The bill titled: ‘A Bill for an
Act to prevent, prohibit and redress Sexual Harassment of students in
tertiary educational institutions and for matters concerned therewith,
2019’, was sponsored by the Deputy Senate President. Ovie Omo-Agege, and 106 other senators.
Act to prevent, prohibit and redress Sexual Harassment of students in
tertiary educational institutions and for matters concerned therewith,
2019’, was sponsored by the Deputy Senate President. Ovie Omo-Agege, and 106 other senators.
The bill among many things is geared
towards promoting and protecting ethical standards in tertiary
institutions. It will also protect students against sexual harassment as
well as prevent sexual harassment of students by educators in tertiary
institutions.
towards promoting and protecting ethical standards in tertiary
institutions. It will also protect students against sexual harassment as
well as prevent sexual harassment of students by educators in tertiary
institutions.
The bill which has 27 clauses, proposed up
to 14 years jail term, with a minimum of 5 years, without an option of
fine for any educator who commits sexual offenses in tertiary
institutions. The bill defines sexual offenses as including sexual
intercourse with a student or demands for sex from a student or a
prospective student or intimidating or creating a hostile or offensive
environment for the student by soliciting for sex or making sexual
advances.
to 14 years jail term, with a minimum of 5 years, without an option of
fine for any educator who commits sexual offenses in tertiary
institutions. The bill defines sexual offenses as including sexual
intercourse with a student or demands for sex from a student or a
prospective student or intimidating or creating a hostile or offensive
environment for the student by soliciting for sex or making sexual
advances.
Other forms of sexual harassment identified
in the bill are grabbing, hugging, kissing, rubbing, stroking,
touching, pinching the breasts or hair or lips or hips or buttocks or
any other sensual part of the body of a student; or sending by hand or
courier or electronic or any other means naked or sexually explicit
pictures or videos or sex-related objects to a student, and whistling or
winking at a student or screaming, exclaiming, joking or making
sexually complimentary or uncomplimentary remarks about a student’s
physique or stalking a student.
in the bill are grabbing, hugging, kissing, rubbing, stroking,
touching, pinching the breasts or hair or lips or hips or buttocks or
any other sensual part of the body of a student; or sending by hand or
courier or electronic or any other means naked or sexually explicit
pictures or videos or sex-related objects to a student, and whistling or
winking at a student or screaming, exclaiming, joking or making
sexually complimentary or uncomplimentary remarks about a student’s
physique or stalking a student.
When the bill was read on the floor of the
Senate and passed its second reading in November 2019, Omo-Agege
addressed fears that some female students might see this as an
opportunity to make false claims about a lecturer or educator.
Senate and passed its second reading in November 2019, Omo-Agege
addressed fears that some female students might see this as an
opportunity to make false claims about a lecturer or educator.
“On suggestions of inadequate sanctions for
students who falsely accuse educators of sexual harassment, the reality
is that this bill prescribes expulsion for those students. In addition,
an educator whose character is maligned is at liberty to sue for
defamation under the law of defamation which is well-settled in our
jurisprudence and needs no duplication in this bill.There is also the suggestion that some
students, especially females, harass educators by their mode of dressing
and that this bill may not be doing enough to protect educators. I
understand this concern. However, the educator can activate
institutional disciplinary actions against such students,” he explained.
The bill was read for the first time on October 9, 2019.
