Members of the university community have been forewarned about sexual harassment on campuses by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.
According to the ICPC, sexual harassment is a corrupt activity that carries a minimum seven-year prison sentence.
The warning was delivered in Abuja on Wednesday during a “One Day Sensitization Workshop on Sexual Harassment in Tertiary Institutions” by Mr. Clifford Oparaodu, Secretary of the Commission.
According to Oparaodu, victims of sexual harassment should be aware of their legal rights and how to pursue justice because the ICPC views this behavior as corrupt.
He expressed concern that in many institutions, sexual enjoyment had turned into a kind of “illegal tender.” He said, “Sexual harassment is a form of corruption.”
He said that it is a deviation from the norm for an official to use his or her office or position to demand, receive, obtain, or attempt to obtain any form of sexual gratification for him or to perform his duties.
“Ideally, official duties ought to be carried out with integrity, good conscience, and diligence without the expectation of any unlawful benefit,” he said
According to him, Section 8 of the ICPC Act says, “Any person who corruptly asks for, receives or obtains any property or benefit of any kind for himself or any other person; is guilty of an offence of Official corruption and is liable to imprisonment for seven years.
“It is pertinent to note that unlawful benefits are not always pecuniary and it is disheartening that sexual gratification has become a form of “illegal tender” in many institutions.
“Staff members have been found to use their office to demand and receive sexual benefits from other staff and students in exchange for good grades or other favours,” he said.
Oparaodu said that it was unfortunate that, due to the fear of stigmatisation or further victimisation, many targets of such demands find themselves forced to succumb.
“This is to avoid dire consequences and denial of benefits to which they may ordinarily even be entitled.
“The culture of silence has allowed sexual harassment thrives but ICPC is working relentlessly to ensure that with sensitization and appropriate policy implementation, this culture would gradually change,” he said.
He declared that the ICPC is committed to ending this and that the Sexual Harassment Unit was established with the goal of preventing sexual harassment in secondary and tertiary educational institutions.
According to Oparaodu, this was done to address the problem of authorities abusing their position of authority and sexual gratification.
He clarified that the goal of the class was to teach students how to report sexual harassment occurrences, get evidence in a way that will help the commission’s investigations, and get in touch with the ICPC with ease.
NAN
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