Sexual harassment, has become a thorny social issue confronting parents, religious groups, organisations and governments, because of the dire consequences on victims and society in general.
Though the problem is being experienced by both sexes, females are much more likely to be victims as they more often than their male conterpact lack power, are more vulnerable and insecure, lack self confidence or have been socialised to suffer in silence.
Sexual harassment is a global menace and pervasive violation of human rights, particularly against women and girls.
The United Nations (UN) has categorised sexual harassment or sexual assault, as a behaviour consisting of unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favours and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature.
It is undesirable or inappropriate sexual conduct from one person to a person. Sexual advances can be classified or labelled as ‘harassment’ when this behaviour is not wanted by the receiver, no matter how grevious or small the act may be seen in one person’s eyes.
Uunfortunately, vulnerable females, especially ignorant and young girls, often fall victim to sexual harassment. The problem transcends physical harm, leaving survivors with emotional, psychological, and socio-economic scars.
More troubling is the psychological effects of anxiety, depression, headaches, sleep disorders and weight loss or gain, which can lead to psychiatric conditions.
In Ghana, victims face sexual assaults, including rape, defilement, unnatural carnal knowledge and harassment, regarded serious offences thus first degree felony, liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment not less than five years and not more than 25 years.
The Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service presents a glooming report of 1,047 girls defiled and 305 women raped in 2020. The Gender Centre national survey also indicates that 56 per cent of female and 36 per cent of male students have experienced sexual violence in school, with most offences taking place during primary and school.
It is also frightening to note that the Ghana Statistical Service’s 2022 Ghana Demographic Health Survey reveals that one in 10 Ghanaian girls experience their first sexual encounter before the age of 15. The report indicates that many of these early encounters lead to teenage pregnancies, prompting.
Additionally, a 2020 survey by the humanitarian organization, Plan Ghana, revealed that 85 per cent of girls face sexual harassment online in Ghana, 57 per cent of girls also face threats of sexual violence and 64 per cent encounter insulting language.
Sexual harassment has become very sophiscated with the introduction of internet or social media – Facebook, WhatsApp, X (Twitter), and Instagram.
Sharing her experience with a colleague, who had complained of sexual harassment via mobile phone, a 19-year-old female student of a senior high school in Accra, said “Men were sending me photos of their private parts with inappropriate messages. Some would call you at odd hours of the day and all these made me very uncomfortable so I was forced to close my Facebook account.”
As far as some of the teenagers could remember, they only actively made posts about trending national conversations and barely shared photos of themselves.
Females, especially girls, go through a lot of sexual harassment on social media, but it is glossed over because most people don’t consider it a problem.
Yet, many other African countries like Ghana are facing a widespread challenge due to the absence of effective online abuse and harassment policies.
Although the country’s Criminal Code of 1960 (ACT 29) makes provisions relating to threats, it is unable to deal with the complex nature of online abuses such as stalking and harassment.
An official of Ghana’s National Cyber Security Authority noted that the current laws offer more specific protection for children than women or men.
The expert, however, said the provisions are sufficient to deal with existing threats online for women, although there will be the need for additional clauses to deal with emerging trends.
Though it is discomforting to address such a social issue, no positive change can be realised without action and the creation of awareness on sexaul harassment.
It is significant to start sensitisation drive with potential victims, especially girls, about sexual harrsement, in view of the fact that the United Nations International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) in 2022, reveals that 51 per cent of Ghanaian students were knowledgeable about sexual harassment, implying that the remaining 49 per cent were not knowledgeable about the problem.
The harm that pornography for instance can cause to its viewers, especially children is not entirely traceable. The negative impacts are grave in distorting the viewers perception of sex and consent.
There is a negative link between porn use and sexual violence as men who act aggressively towards women are typically also heavy porn users.
Whethere the solution is banning it, in general, or banning solely violent and graphic porn, action must be taken to limit its accessibility on the internet.
Sadly, some victims of sexual harassment suffer injustice because they are being forced into silence either due to family pressure, stigma or the tedious and sometimes uneventful process after the crime has been reported.
Parents and guardians of victims have to spend huge amount of money on medical exammination needed for sexual assault cases. The hope for justice feels fleeting, leading to the decline in lawful action taken against assaulters, making cases only rise.
The government and parliament should ensure that laws on sexual harasment are updated, to protect victims, particularly girls, aginst the canker. Aside, parents and victims themselves should be prepared to assist law enforcement agencies in dealing with reported sexual harrasment cases.
There is the need for the government to establish sexual assault and harassment referral centres to address cases of sexual harassment and ensure timely intervention.
It is heart-warming that the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), a government outfit, has also taken a serious look at sexual harassment in the country.
Mercy Larbi, a deputy commissioner at CHRAJ, recently, called for the formulation of effective policies on sexual harassment, which should be part of materials institutions and organisations would give employee.
Lamenting that sexual harassment had been a challenge in the country, especially in schools and work places, saying in some countries, people could lose their jobs just because of sexual harassment complaint made against them.
“Even when you are looking for jobs in this country, some demand sex for jobs. We should take sexual harassment policies seriously in Ghana,” Ms Larbi is reported to have said.
She said that CHRAJ had started a project to educate students in basic schools, particularly girls, to know their rights as far as sexual harassment was concerned.
Mrs Larbi claimed that CHRAJ had heard of reported cases of some teachers in basic schools harassing and defiling girls; and educating girls would help them to protect themselves from sexual harassment.
It is also good news that the Director in-charge of Guidance and Counselling Unit of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Mrs Gifty Sekyi-Bremansu, has asked school administrators to develop and implement gender-based violence policies, in order to make the school environment safer for students.
She said violence against students, especially sexual harassment, had become a very common feature, which required a concerted effort to deal with in educational institutions.
Mrs Sekyi-Bremansu, who made the call at a stakeholder engagement and launch of this year’s nationwide campaign against gender-based violence in secondary schools across the country, in Accra,in November said “As educators and stakeholders, we have a collective responsibility to create a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment for all our students”.
Certainly, tackling sexual harassment effectively would be herculean task that would require the collective efforts of government, policymakers, law enforcement officials, social workers, parents and civil society organisations.
writers from the initiativus movement
Victoria Naa Kwarley Quartey
Akua Afriyie Ofori-Atta
Gabriela Owusu Ansah