UCC students advised to report all forms of sexual harassment

Students of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) have been admonished to resist all forms of sexual harassment and report same for appropriate action.

The Chairperson of the university's sexual harassment committee, Vanboven Swanzy-Essien, who made the call, said the university did not tolerate any form of sexual harassment and would swiftly deal with such cases to create a safe environment for all.

He was speaking at a seminar on sexual harassment organised by the Centre for Gender Research, Advocacy and Documentation (CEGRAD) in collaboration with the Perfector of Sentiments (POS) Foundation at the university last Friday.

It was on the theme: "Safe Spaces: Preventing Sexual Harassment on campus.”

Mr Swanzy-Essien said the university aimed at achieving a sexual-harassment-free environment where all were free, safe and respected to learn and thrive.

Inappropriate behaviours

He said structures had therefore been put in place to help create a culture where inappropriate behaviours were not tolerated but recognised and responded to appropriately and swiftly with all fairness to parties involved.

Touching on what he called the three "Rs" of sexual harassment, Mr Swanzy-Essien said sexual harassment was real, reprehensible and must be resisted.

He advised the students to be active by-standers and allies to help prevent all forms of sexual harassment and support survivors.

"Don't allow anyone to abuse you in any way and don’t abuse anyone. Seek consent before anything and that is basic," he stated.

He said sometimes students were compelled to consent to some individuals in authority such as lecturers because the lecturers had the "power" to assess them.

He stressed that article 17 of the 1992 Constitution and the university's code of conduct did not allow any form of sexual harassment, adding that students who suffer from such should report to CEGRAD, an immediate supervisor, the counselling unit or to the hall supervisors for action.

Panellists

Panellists at a panel discussion on the topic later called for swift handling of sexual harassment cases.

The Director of CEGRAD, Prof. Eunice Fay Amissah said there had been incidents where lecturers had been sacked for sexual harassment at the university, emphasising that the university was ready to investigate and punish offenders.

She suggested the possibility of publishing the names of offenders sacked for sexual harassment and further communicate to other universities.

The Founder and Executive Director of POS Foundation, Jonathan Osei Owusu, for his part, stated that the foundation was committed, with relevant centres of the various public universities, to create awareness of sexual harassment and embolden particularly students to report such cases for redress.  

To this end, he said the POS Foundation had planned similar seminars at five public universities to increase awareness and make the universities safer for all.

A Gender Specialist, Mercy Adjabeng, stressed that men could also be sexually harassed and urged them not to hesitate to report such cases for redress.

A Research fellow at CEGRAD, Dr John Oti Amoah stressed that a persons dressing should not be an excuse to sexually harass him or her.

A lecturer with the Department of Religion and family values at UCC, Dr Kwadwo Okyere, said nobody must be intimidated to accept sexual harassment in silence because the person's religion teaches them to be obedient and subservient.