Sexual Harassment Policy
THE UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN SEXUAL HARASSMENT POLICY
The University of Ibadan SH Policy Statement
The University shall cultivate and maintain a working and learning environment that reflects respect for the dignity of all members of its community, thereby stimulating and supporting an environment free of sexual harassment. The University of Ibadan (UI) is committed to ensuring a safe space for members of the community – students, staff, service providers and all persons. The University considers any act of sexual harassment as gross violation of the fundamental human rights of the victim and academic freedom in the case of students.
The Vision of the Policy
The vision is to establish UI as an ideal, safe and secure place of work and learning, where the dignity of everyone is ensured.
The Mission of the Policy
Towards the attainment of the vision, the University shall be obliged to:
Create awareness and disseminate information on what constitutes SH.
Investigate allegations and reports of incidents of SH and/or attempted SH.
Enforce rapid redress mechanisms to incidents of SH.
Educate staff and students about their right to seek redress in cases of SH.
Ensure that victims of SH suffer minimal setbacks and are integrated back into University life as quickly as possible.
Ensure that victims who report cases of SH are not discriminated against or stigmatised.
Encourage decorum, appropriate dressing and proper comportment by staff and students.
Discourage dual relationships which may involve conflict of interest such as dating between a staff and a student. If they exist, the University shall encourage disclosure by either of the parties.
THE SCOPE OF THE POLICY
The Sexual Harassment Policy shall apply to:
All academic and non-academic staff of the University
All students
All contractors of and service providers to the University
All visitors to the University
Other groups of persons in the University, including but not limited to children, wards, and other dependants of staff
Policy Issues
Teaching - the curricula and use of facilities
Learning - the curricula and environment
Research – incorporating gender perspectives in research and innovations
Service - Gender sensitivity in community, national and international service/outreach
Objectives of the University SH Policy
The objectives of the UI SH policy are to:
Create for all staff, students and service providers a safe and secure work and learning environment, free of SH;
Ensure among its entire staff, students and service providers, respect for both sexes, and a transparent operating system in academic and other matters devoid of demands for sexual gratification;
Eliminate gender-based violence;
Strengthen UI’s commitment to individual professional development and well being through enforcement of non sexist language and actions.
DEFINITION OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT
The University considers sexual harassment as:
Unwanted sexually motivated conduct, comments, touching and expressions capable of prejudicing or undermining a person’s freedom, rights and privileges. Such acts could include but are not limited to outright demands, ogling, indecent comments and unnecessary bodily contact which could lead to psychological or physical unsolicited sexual relationships;
Unwanted suggestive looks, phone calls or use of other multimedia format and comments intended to lure a person into a sexual relationship.
Spousal abuse where one or both partners are members of the university community
SH may take place over a period of time, may be a single incident and may or may not involve elements of overt coercion. SH may be from a superior to a subordinate or vice versa or among peers. It can be direct or indirect (including procuring or attempting to offer a person to another for sexual activity); and may involve persons of the same or opposite sex.
FORMS OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT
Following from the definition above, forms of sexual harassment in the University include but are not limited to:
Verbal Conduct
Unfriendly remarks with sexual connotations
Coaxing of females or males by staff and students to have sexual affair.
Demanding for sexual favours in exchange for employment, promotion, admission or any other benefits.
Denying an individual his or her entitlement for refusal to succumb to sexual advances.
Demanding for sexual favours in exchange for grades
Sexually motivated booing and ogling of a person(s).
Sexist comments and dirty talk directed at someone or persons.
Asking personal questions about sexual life.
Targeting a person with sexual comments.
Making a sexual comment about a person’s clothing, body or shape.
Turning academic and occupational discussions into sexual discussions without precluding or restricting appropriate teaching methods and research.
Compelling persons to narrate sexual fantasies, preferences or history.
Unsolicited, sexually explicit or suggestive electronic and mobile messages.
Directly or indirectly procuring or attempting to offer a person to another for sexual activity
Visual and Audio Conduct
Taking and sending unwholesome pictures and making recordings (videos, CDs, camera phones etc) for the purpose of blackmail or any other purpose.
Being forced or induced to watch pornography or X-rated movies
Seductive postures and indecent dressing and exposure by males or females that offend public morality. Any form of dressing that exposes vital parts of the human body constitutes indecent dressing. The University shall encourage a ‘dress sense’ culture among males and females.
Indecent and inappropriate public show of sexual intimacy
Physical Conduct
- Sexual assault and Battery
- Repeated, unwelcome and unwarranted brushing against a person’s body.
- Unwelcome caressing or fondling
Complaint Procedures
All complaints on violation or infringement of SH shall be made at the Gender Mainstreaming Office, (GMO) and where appropriate, referred to the relevant authorities.
Complaints of violation or infringement of the SH policy may be formal or informal.
Informal complaints (i.e. oral complaints) shall be treated administratively. The receiving officer shall however make a record of the complaint.
A formal complaint must be in writing, signed and submitted at the GMO.
A report or complaint can be made by the victim (or anyone who advocates on his or her behalf), or a witness. However, the decision to make such complaint formal or informal lies with the victim (or anyone who advocates on his or her behalf) or a witness.
Penalties
Any person found liable of perpetrating SH, falsely accusing any person or instigating the occurrence of false accusation shall be subject to penalty. The penalties for those found to have violated this policy may include, but will not be limited to any of the following:
Counselling and/or therapy
Oral admonition
Written warning or oral reprimand
Referral to Staff/Student Disciplinary Committee (SDC) as the case may be or
Any other disciplinary action which the University may deem fit.
Contact Address
Gender Mainstreaming Office (GMO)
Students Affairs Building
University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
Website:www.gmo.ui.edu.ng
E-mail:uigenderoffice@gmail.com