By Alusine Fullah

Speaking recently in her flagship programme, First Lady Fatima Bio said: “A working environment or workplace culture that is sexually permeated or hostile can definitely amount to inefficiency”.

Whether in the military, schools, colleges, the media, hospitals, or in the office, women for years have voiced concerns about sexual harassment, which of course, a menace that does not affect only women.

The Sexual Offences Act of 2012 condemns sexual harassment. Article 6 stipulates that: “A person who intentionally commits an act of sexual penetration with another person without the consent of that other person commits the offence of rape and is liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment not less than five years and not exceeding fifteen years.

Article 7 of the said Act adds that: “A person who intentionally, without the person’s consent– (a) touches that person in a sexual manner, or (b) compels that person to touch the accused person in a sexual manner, commits the offence of indecent assault and is liable on conviction to fine not exceeding Le5 million or a term of imprisonment not exceeding five years.”

A sexually hostile environment causes severe psychological injury and disables sexually-harassed workers from being effective and efficient.

Aside local legal instruments, there are also many international laws that oblige employers and office managers to prevent and stop harassment at work, and should not retaliate against someone filling a compliant about sexual harassment.

In Sierra Leone’s educational system, the Radical Inclusion Policy frowns at sexual harassment and obliges school and college authorities to prevent and/or stop the menace in their learning institutions.

It goes without saying that victims bear the greatest pain when it comes to sexual harassment. It negatively affects employees’ mental and physical health, their finances and opportunities to advance in their careers. According to health practitioners, victims of sexual violence often suffer anxiety and depression which last for years. Strong stigma is often experienced by sexually assaulted victims.

Prevention is the best way to combat sexual harassment in the workplace, business environment, learning institutions and homes. More and more measures have to be taken to stamp out the menace. Messages to stop such threat should be incorporated in school lessons, trainings in business or work places. Religious and traditional leaders are also crucial in all of this. Families should also have a zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Tuesday, January 2nd, 2023 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)