Daniel Kanu
Former Presidential Adviser on National Assembly Matters and leader of the Bakassi people, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, has again reiterated the need to speed up deliberation and passage of the new anti-sexual harassment bill by the Senate.
The latest call 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.
Before this development, Senator Ita Giwa had always lamented that the issue of sexual harassment against women was becoming prevalent in the society and should be checked.
She had once advocated as a show for her disgust to the immoral act, that sexual harassers should be castrated.
In a statement she personally signed and made available to our correspondent, 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 opined 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.
She 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.”