Women, politics and sexual harassment, By Cynthia Mbamalu

The Nationwide Meeting stays the hub of our democracy, and defending legislators, workers and residents who work and work together with the Establishment from abuse, harassment and exploitation must be on the core of the Meeting. In March, which is devoted to recommitting the world to efforts geared at selling the rights of ladies and women, the Nigerian Senate has a chance to point out Nigerian ladies that they don’t seem to be hated.

The politics of who will get a seat or the place you sit is as previous as politics itself. From the wars which have been fought on who sits on the throne to our traditions on who will get a seat within the “internal council” is just a story as previous as time. In each stage of society, the place you sit isn’t solely important however symbolic for illustration, voice and presence. One of many largest and profitable bus boycotts within the historical past of the civil rights motion that challenged and led to the top of segregation legal guidelines within the metropolis of Alabama in america of America started with a seat.

A soft-spoken lady, Rosa Parks, who was simply drained and wished to take a seat and relaxation whereas driving the bus, refused to surrender a seat due to a segregation regulation. The success and energy of the Montgomery bus boycott, which modified a established order that’s referenced as we speak, all began with a seat. It’s due to this fact not shocking that in 2025 in Nigeria, the agitation of Distinguished Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan over her seat allocation within the Senate has introduced again consideration to essential conversations starting from a political system that excludes and silences ladies to an even bigger dialog on sexual harassment.

Can a senator be sexually harassed or abused by a fellow senator? Sure. Is an allegation of sexual harassment within the Nationwide Meeting new? No. Anybody who thinks in any other case clearly exists in one other planet and is complicit in abuse. Sexual abuse and sexual harassment are each gendered and power-based, and are continuously wielded as a weapon to silence, exclude and undermine ladies in politics and completely different spheres of life. For readability, sexual harassment is a type of gender-based violence and it could possibly manifest in several types. Sexual harassment may be as delicate as making unwelcome sexual and bodily advances, sexual innuendos/feedback to a girl, which others could discover amusing, besides the recipient of the feedback.

It ranges from sharing undesirable nudes, pornography, to extending undesirable invites that point out ulterior motives, whispering lewd jokes and invading the intimate personal house of a girl. It is usually as embarrassing because the making of improper feedback a few lady’s appears to be like, physique or dressing, and the undesirable touching of the bodily components of a girl. Whereas each women and men are victims of sexual harassment, ladies are extra weak to it as a result of it’s power-based and enabled by persistent gender inequality. As famous by the World Financial institution, “Gender-based violence is likely one of the most oppressive types of gender inequality, posing a elementary barrier to the equal participation for ladies and men in social, financial and political spheres.”

Now the misconceptions: {that a} man loves his spouse, daughter, and sisters doesn’t imply he can’t be an abuser or harasser. It’s identical to saying {that a} thief gained’t rob you as a result of he has a brother or sister such as you. That different ladies didn’t communicate up doesn’t imply that one who speaks up is mendacity. All of us have completely different ranges of braveness. Lastly, traditionally, ladies in politics who face abuse don’t communicate as much as keep away from shedding political capital or being victimised.

In addressing gender-based violence, a critical establishment, individuals and nation will: (1) respect the criticism of the one who skilled the harassment, (2) present a secure house for reporting, (3) examine the report as a pathway to justice, (4) make sure the accused isn’t the decide within the case, in keeping with the rules of pure justice and, (5) punish perpetrators. This must be the main strategy to allegations of sexual harassment in any respect ranges. For a Senate created by the Structure and sure by its safeguards for elementary human rights, enjoying politics and technicalities with a petition on sexual harassment disregards the Structure.

Now the misconceptions: {that a} man loves his spouse, daughter, and sisters doesn’t imply he can’t be an abuser or harasser. It’s identical to saying {that a} thief gained’t rob you as a result of he has a brother or sister such as you. That different ladies didn’t communicate up doesn’t imply that one who speaks up is mendacity. All of us have completely different ranges of braveness. Lastly, traditionally, ladies in politics who face abuse don’t communicate as much as keep away from shedding political capital or being victimised. The silence and acceptance of unhealthy behaviour as norm in politics has enabled impunity and daring abusers in utilizing their energy to silence the few who dare to talk.

Nigeria, allow us to discuss concerning the politics of exclusion and victimisation.

Nigeria’s journey to democracy was a hard-fought battle that was sustained by the resilience and unwavering spirit of women and men who believed in freedom and democracy. The transition to democracy in 1999 introduced new hope to a nation that had been battered by males in uniform and silenced for too lengthy. The poll signified the ability of the individuals to decide on their leaders and the beginning of Nigeria’s constitutional democracy. Nigeria’s 1999 Structure, with its imperfections, completely enunciates Nigeria as a rustic to be ruled on the rules of freedom, equality and justice. Part 14 of the Structure establishes Nigeria as a State based mostly on the rules of democracy and social justice.

Nevertheless, within the nearly 26 years of democracy, Nigeria has been constantly and conspicuously disadvantaged of the advantages of illustration of ladies in authorities in any respect ranges, violating a fundamental precept of democracy. Ladies’s illustration is a democratic rights subject as a result of the exclusion of ladies is silencing their voices in political choices. This extended exclusion has created a political ecosystem by which sexual abuse and the harassment of ladies have continued, been excused, condoned, and most occasions handled with levity.

With the evolution of labour regulation, extra corporations, establishments, and locations of labor are introducing safeguarding insurance policies. Nigeria’s Nationwide Meeting and all authorities establishments, as a matter of urgency, want a Safeguarding Coverage that correctly supplies a framework for the prevention of and safety from Sexual Exploitations, Abuse and Harassment.

Nigeria remains to be one of many poor performing international locations in terms of political empowerment. The 2024 Gender Hole report of the World Financial Discussion board ranked Nigeria 136 of the 146 international locations surveyed in terms of closing the gender hole in political empowerment. With solely 17 feminine legislators of the 360 legislators within the Home of Representatives and 4 feminine senators of the 109 senators elected in 2023, it’s an injustice to deal with allegations of sexual harassment with levity. Ladies in Nigeria are combating each systemic exclusion and cultural and non secular bias towards ladies management.

Nigeria can’t afford to disregard the decision for secure areas for ladies in each elective and appointive places of work. That is significantly essential with the emergence of youthful ladies in politics who’re knowledgeable, conscious of their rights and never restricted by the fears of the oppressive palms of patriarchy. The Nationwide Meeting is a spot for the intense enterprise of illustration, law-making and oversight that requires competence, vibrancy, innovation, and expertise. None of those are mutually unique, which is why we can’t tolerate the abuse of energy and/or sexual harassment getting used towards present and rising leaders within the Nationwide Meeting.

With the evolution of labour regulation, extra corporations, establishments, and locations of labor are introducing safeguarding insurance policies. Nigeria’s Nationwide Meeting and all authorities establishments, as a matter of urgency, want a Safeguarding Coverage that correctly supplies a framework for the prevention of and safety from Sexual Exploitations, Abuse and Harassment.

The Nationwide Meeting stays the hub of our democracy, and defending legislators, workers and residents who work and work together with the Establishment from abuse, harassment and exploitation must be on the core of the Meeting. In March, which is devoted to recommitting the world to efforts geared at selling the rights of ladies and women, the Nigerian Senate has a chance to point out Nigerian ladies that they don’t seem to be hated.

Cynthia Mbamalu is a human and gender rights advocate and the director of programmes at Yiaga Africa.