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Sexual Harassment at Work needs holistic approach.....Experts.

By Afolabi Oyekunle.


Concern about sexual harassment at work places and inadequate enforcement of the International Labour Convention (190) on the issue, the Labour Writers Association of Nigeria (LAWAN) in collaboration with Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) held a workshop in Lagos, to educate journalists on their roles to ensure the law is adequately enforced and ensure justice for victims.

Several speakers at the event believe most harrasments are being swept under the carpet due to non-implentation and compliance with the ILO convention.

They therefore challenged journalists to take up the task and ensure justice for those who report sexual harrasments at work places.

       Participants at  the one day workshop 

In her presentation, a media Consultant and one time Chairman, Labour Writers Association of Nigeria, (LAWAN) Mrs.Funmi Komolafe called on Leaders of Trade Unions and Employers to work in collaboration to see that justice is given to victims of sexual harrasments.

She is of the opinion that sexual harrasments must not be tolerated as it affects workers morale and limits their productivity.

Mrs Komolafe said under no circumstances should those affected be denied of justice, and called on journalists to see that such issues are well investigated and brought to attention.

      Mrs Komolafe addressing participants 

In his paper, a Professor of Journalism at the Lagos State University, Professor Tunde Akanni said sexual harrasments could be in form of sexual, verbal, physical, psychological or cyber bullying.


     Professor Tunde Akanni delivering his lecture.


He encouraged those affected to always exercise their rights in bringing it to the notice of the authorities to ensure they receive justice.

Professor Akanni also called on Employers to take the reports seriously and conduct adequate investigation towards sanity in work places.

In her paper, the Director General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dr. Chinyere Almona said the ILO Convention 190 enforcement in Nigeria remains weak due to insufficient training of law enforcement agencies and judicial officers on the matter resulting in mishandling of many reported cases thereby denying victims of justice.

DG Lagos Chamber of Commerce, Dr Chinyere Almona.

According to her, gender based sexual harrasments and violence are not only great human rights violation but pose direct threats to economic development, employees well being and also economic development.

The DG said without addressing the multifaceted barriers, ratification would become cumbersome.

In her presentation titled,  "Understanding Harrasments at Work" an Associate Consultant with Global Hub, Janet Anaele- Abazie, said sexual harrasment is not limited to male harrassing their female counterparts but comes across the divide as there have been reported cases of females harrassing their male counterparts.

              Janiet Anaele-Abazie 

She therefore called on Nigeria to ensure that the ILO Convention 190 is adequately implemented to the letter and enforced 

The Chairman of Labour Writers Association of Nigeria, (LAWAN) Mr. Toba Agboola, said the workshop in collaboration with Friedrich Ebert Stiftung was organized to broaden the knowledge of the Association members towards better information in reporting sexual harrasments at work places. 




  Chairman LAWAN, Mr Toba Agboola  

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