Beautiful Miss Aishat Lawal is a Kano based advocate against sexual harassment and GBV in Nigeria. She also leads an advocacy for Women inclusion in politics
Aisha Lawal, a philanthropist, Sapiosexual and a pragmatic individual, spoke exclusively with THEPALACE Newspaper, on the causes of sexual harassment, prevention and government role to curtail the menace.
Enjoy reading.
You are a known advocate against sexual harassment, what can you say is actually responsible for the menace?
Sexual Harassment is a form of gender based violence that affects of all genders, ages, races and backgrounds.
It is a pervasive problem that can occur in various settings including workplace, schools, social media platforms, and our communities etc.
Even though both sexes are sexually harassed, females are more prone and oftentimes victims.
Sexual Harassment could be Groping, sextortion, Inappropriate/lewd comments, sexting, making sexual jokes and comments, directly asking someone for sex, indirectly exposure of themselves to the victim or others.
Sexual Harassment is a serious, worrisome and unacceptable societal ill that must be addressed.
Causes of sexual harassment includes lack of awareness, gender inequality and abuse or misinterpretation of power and authority etc
The rate at which older men are sexually molesting underage teenagers is worrisome, what can be done to stop the ugly situation?
Awareness creation for all across the 36 states if the federation.Overcoming the stereotypical assumptions through breaking the jinx and lending people a voice irrespective of their family background, tribe or status in the society.Advocacy through storytelling by victims of sexual harassment.Emphatic voices of victims that will make a great impact in changing the narrative.
What role can the Government play to ensure that sexual harassment is checked and prevented?
Enabling laws with full implementation irrespective of the suspects financial status or position in the society. Also, Support Services – Victims of sexual harassment should have access to free confidential support services including counselling and legal advice. Making issues of sexual harassment a public agenda.
How do you describe a situation where a father is having sex with his biological child, a prevelant cases in Nigeria?
It is incest and a very terrible thing that all religions frown against.
The suspect, no matter his position or financial status in the society should face the wrath of law. In order to serve as a deterrence to others.
Teenagers and underage are getting into sexual affairs, probably due to drugs and alcoholism, what is the implication to the society?
Unintended pregnancy which mostly lead to unsafe abortions. Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD). Bearing children without firm parental knowledge is likely to have a negative effect on both the mother and the child. A child who is not raised well will of course be a thorn on the flesh of his neighbours and community rather than being a blessing.
