Sexual Harassment Laws in Nigeria: Lessons from the United Kingdom

Sexual harassment is a social problem facing women at work and is a barrier to their career advancement. The United Nations recognises sexual harassment as a form of violence against women and is committed to eliminating it through the enactment of laws to punish and redress the wrongs. Nigeria, a Member State of the United Nations, has ratified international and regional instruments which advocate for the protection and promotion of the rights of women and girls. This study shows that laws in Nigeria are not adequate to protect workers from sexual harassment and that laws are needed to curb the societal menace. The study examined international and regional provisions on sexual harassment at work as well as carried out a thorough review of the applicable laws in the UK with a view to recommending changes to Nigerian laws. The study also examined the perception of sexual harassment and found that perception of sexual harassment and what people considered to be sexual harassment can vary from one society to another. In light of this, the study proposes that any enactment of laws in Nigeria to eliminate sexual harassment should take account of the patriarchal nature of Nigerian society that encourages males to outwardly express sexual interest in women which may alter a woman’s perception of what is an acceptable expression of sexual interest. Alongside this, the study also recommends that boys and men should be educated to understand that a woman’s ‘no’ means ‘no.’