A research has revealed that about 91 percent of cases of sexual harassment in workplaces faced by women were being perpetrated by their bosses and superiors.
The research, while 14 percent of the respondent’s revealed that “they have been raped at workplaces, “only 33 percent of organizations were concerned about protecting women’s rights even as 68 percent lack gender responsiveness in their organizations.
These were the findings of “Carrier barriers and workplace sexual harassment against young women in Nigeria: Research validation meeting and extract on the Federal Character Territory”, carried out by HEIR WDI with support from Ford Foundation.
HEIR Women Development aims to see young women take on more decision making position and venture into leadership opportunities.
The research also revealed that while three in four (74 percent) of the women have experienced online stalking, 68 percent attest to receiving persistent emails, sexual invitations with 81 per cent confirming that this sexual harassment had been rife.
The research findings was signed by the Programme Officer of HEIR Women Development, Blessing Ejeh, and released to journalists on Friday in Abuja.
The report said, “Three in five women (57 per cent) have experienced physical sexual harassment which respondents reported in form of unwelcomed touching, deliberate pinching among others. 14 per cent of the respondent’s revealed that they have been raped at work. The major perpetrators of sexual harassment at work are seen to be bosses or superior as 91 per cent reported.
“Also, three in 4 (74 per cent) of these women have experienced online stalking while 68 per cent attest to receiving persistent emails, invitations sexual nature with 81 per cent confirming that this sexual harassment is being often.”
The NGO said 68 percent of the respondents reported a lack of gender responsiveness in their organization because the Human Resources Department is often charged with the responsibility for drafting protective policies on sexual harassment.
“However, their goal is to protect the interest of bosses to the detriment of other staff”, the report revealed.
The research said, “Despite these scary statistics, just 49 per cent of the respondents consider their workspace to be unsafe which is a clear indication of the low awareness among these women of what sexual harassment entails and its dangers.”
