The Nigerian Senate says a bill to outlaw workplace harassment against women will soon be passed into law in the country.
Deputy Senate President, Omo Agege stated this at a two-day workshop on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) and Human Rights Defenders organised by the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, in Abuja, Nigeria’s Capital.
According to him, the move is a demonstration of the senate to support and ensure the rights of women are protected through legislation in the country.
“If the right of workplace harassment is legislated, we are going to see success because if you meet ten women and talk to them, eight of them will say these are their encounters every day.’’ Omo Agege said.
The Deputy Senate President, who was represented by Mr Daniel Bwaya at the event, also said that another bill that will ensure the rights of women to have Indigeneship by marriage. This, according to him would ensure that a woman who is married for five years is qualified to run for any political office in the country.
According to the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission in Nigeria, Mr Tony Ojukwu, the workshop, with support of the UN-EU Spotlight Initiative is intended to bring together key human rights defenders across sectors of the society to, among others;
Discuss and agree on a way forward on how best to assist victims of sexual and gender-based violence, SGBV, identify and discuss new and emerging protection and referral pathways for effective accountability for violence against women, girls and others.
“It is our hope that after this workshop there would be a more coordinated approach regarding issues of SGBV amongst stakeholders’’ Mr Tony Ojukwu said.
Mr Ojukwu noted that some of the approaches include, harmonizing policies of stakeholders on SGBV, carrying out advocacy to bring about changes in behaviours and attitudes of the society on SGBV.
