College of Education Hosts Seminar on Sexual Harassment and Misconduct

The College of Education has hosted a seminar to educate students of the College on the University’s Sexual Harassment and Misconduct Policy. The seminar, which was facilitated by the chairperson and members of the Anti-Sexual Harassment Committee, was to sensitize students on what constitutes sexual harassment, reporting procedures for sexual harassment and misconduct, rights of the complainant, grievance procedures, and counselling and confidentiality in cases that have been reported.

 Prof. Abena Oduro, Chairperson of the anti-sexual harassment committee

Prof. Abena Oduro, chairperson of the anti-sexual harassment committee, explained that the University’s sexual harassment and misconduct policy exists to create an environment free from intimidation, exploitation and abuse and also to create an atmosphere where all members of the University community are able to work and study in an atmosphere of respect and dignity. She introduced the objectives of the Sexual Harassment and Misconduct Policy and gave examples of what constitutes sexual harassment and misconduct. These include unwelcome, unsolicited advances and/or propositions of a sexual nature, unwanted and persistent propositions for dates, excessive and unwanted attention in the form of letters, telephone calls or gifts, stalking and many more.

Prof. Oduro noted that perpetrators and victims of sexual harassment could be staff, faculty or students, and educated the audience on available avenues for resolving cases of sexual harassment or misconduct. Either formal or informal approaches could be used; informal approaches include the victim discussing the matter directly with the offender, approaching another person he/she trusts to intervene in the matter, asking an authority figure to speak to the perpetrator, or making an oral complaint to a member of the anti-sexual harassment committee.

The formal approach is to make an official complaint to the committee, following which laid down procedures would be followed to investigate the issue.

Prof. Abena Oduro also spoke on issues such as the rights of the complainant, rights of the respondent, non-retaliation and confidentiality.

Participants at the seminar

Members of the anti-sexual harassment committee joined the chairperson to answer questions from participants. Some of the issues discussed were the development of courses to educate students on sexual harassment, dressing, and the perception of harassment.