A REVIEW OF THE NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION SEXUAL HARASSMENT POLICY 2021

Abstract

Sexual harassment has been a major problem faced by legal professionals across the globe. This inordinate sexual behavior has flooded the profession with imbalanced gender ratio since it influences female Lawyers’ intention to exit the profession for an alternative job. In fact, sexual harassment has been documented as a foremost challenge tinted with negative impact, especially as it relates to career development for women within the profession. Although it is underreported due to several factors such as self-blamed, retaliation, termination, stigmatization, etc., the Nigerian Bar Association recently launched its Sexual Harassment Policy at the 61st Annual General Conference, held in Port-Harcourt, Nigeria, to create a safe workplace for all especially, female lawyers who are, or may have been sexually harassed during their day-to-day law practice. This study seeks to review the Nigerian Bar Association Sexual Harassment Policy 2021, and to possibly identify the advantages and disadvantages of the Policy. It makes suggestions for possible modification and implementation of the Policy. In achieving the aims of the study, the doctrinal research methodology was adopted and the Policy was critically reviewed.