An Overview of the Legal Framework on Sexual Harassment in Nigerian Tertiary Institutions-The Need for Stiffer Penalties

Résumé

Sexual harassment constitutes a form of gender- based violence that is prevalent globally and particularly in Nigeria. This form of violence inhibits the human rights of women and girls, recognized in international and regional instruments. Although, sexual harassment is not gender specific, however, going by the available statistics on the victims of this form of violence, the female gender is mostly at the receiving end. Consequently, sexual harassment is a form of gender discrimination. Using the desktop research method, this article examines sexual harassment in Nigerian tertiary institutions by highlighting the nature, scope and types of sexual harassment, the article further explores the incidences of sexual harassment in Nigerian tertiary institutions, equally, it discusses the impact of sexual harassment on the human rights of women and girls in Nigeria, in the same vein, it examines the legal framework on sexual harassment in Nigeria. This paper argues that even though sexual harassment is on the increase in Nigerian tertiary institutions, the efforts of the government and the institutions to curb this major human right challenge seems to be grossly inadequate. The study concludes that sexual harassment is a gross violation of the human rights of the victims and that its impact on the quality of education in higher institutions of learning is grave. It recommended that government should make a concerted effort in ensuring the domestication of international and regional human rights treaties on sexual harassment and also ensure the implementation of the domesticated treaties to curtail sexual harassment in Nigerian tertiary institutions. The paper further recommended that regular sensitization of staff and students of these institutions will also go a long way in stemming the tide of sexual harassment. There is a need for policies on Sexual Harassment in Nigerian Tertiary Institutions. Also, stiffer punishments need to be meted out to erring lecturers.

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