Unmasking Injustice: Examining the NBA’s Stand Against Sexual Harassment and Bullying in the Legal Profession by Henry Barnabas Ehi MICA
BY HENRY BARNABAS EHI, MICA
The National Executive Council of the Nigerian Bar Association, led by Chief Emeka Ozoani, SAN Chairman of the NBA National Welfare Committee took a significant step on December 9, 2023, by formulating the policy on sexual harassment and bullying in the workplace. This groundbreaking policy, designed to protect young lawyers, especially women, faces challenges in gaining popularity. Despite alarming statistics revealing the prevalence of bullying and harassment in the legal profession globally, the adoption of this vital policy remains questioned.
In 2018, the International Bar Association and Acritas conducted a survey exposing the widespread issue of bullying and sexual harassment in legal workplaces worldwide. Shockingly, one in two female respondents and one in three male respondents reported experiencing bullying, while one in three female respondents and one in 14 male respondents faced sexual harassment. Chief Emeka Ozoani, SAN, citing the IBA report, highlighted the urgent need for action, emphasizing that 28% of legal practitioners in Africa have suffered sexual harassment, and 52% have fallen victim to bullying.
The reluctance to embrace this crucial policy raises the question: Why does it remain unpopular? As we ponder this, Chief Emeka Ozoani, SAN, passionately appeals to the NEC, asking if anyone would wish their child to endure harassment or bullying. Urging a unanimous “YES” vote for the adoption of the “NBA Sexual Harassment and Bullying Policy 2023,” he emphasizes the responsibility to hold offenders accountable and create a workplace free from such vices.
The attached policy document outlines a commitment to fostering a decent work environment for all legal practitioners in Nigeria. Chief Ozoani, SAN, leaves the NEC with a powerful call to action, warning that history will judge them harshly if they neglect to stand against sexual harassment and bullying by endorsing and implementing this policy. The challenge now lies in unraveling the reasons behind the policy’s unpopularity, as the legal profession seeks to break free from the shackles of harassment and injustice.
Read the Full NBA Welfare Committee Policy below.
