By Oscar Kambona
Former Presidential Adviser on National Assembly Matters, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, has again reiterated the need to speed up the deliberation and passage of the new Anti-Sexual Harassment Bill by the Senate.
The latest call by the leader of Bakassi people is against the backdrop of the BBC Africa Eye ‘Sex for Grades’ documentary where two lecturers were secretly filmed making immoral advances to their supposed students.
She had in the past lamented that the issue of sexual harassment against women was becoming prevalent in the society and should be checked.
In a statement she personally signed, Ita Giwa commended the Senate especially the sponsor of the bill, Senator Ovie Omo Agege for revisiting it and identifying with victims of sexual harassment.
She said that harassment against students or workers was unacceptable as the nation’s educational system and the workplace had been theatres of abuse.
The former presidential adviser also urged victims to speak up and never be cowed into sweeping allegations under the carpet but to stand up and collectively fight the ugly trend.
The well respected former lawmaker noted further that women should, first of all, uphold their dignity and self-respect towards ensuring a sexual abuse-free society.
The statement reads in part: “It’s time again to stand up against the ills of sexual harassment. I have always advocated for this and I urge my colleagues in the Senate to ensure the bill is speedily passed for Presidential assent.
“We can’t continue to fold our arms while we watch debased and animalistic individuals abuse our girls and women in whatever guise.
“The law must be used to checkmate and prosecute them in other to serve as a deterrent to others who may be conceiving the same.
“I urge victims to stand up and report all cases while I advised that they shouldn’t be stigmatised in any form.”
She had once advocated as a show for her disgust to the immoral act,that sexual harassers should be castrated.
