The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), under the leadership of Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, hosted a crucial and insightful webinar on combating sexual harassment in the legal profession.
The event, titled “Combating Sexual Harassment in the Legal Profession: Promoting a Safe and Inclusive Workplace,” aimed to raise awareness, foster discussions, and identify strategies to prevent and address sexual harassment in legal workplaces.
Speakers & Moderators
The webinar featured distinguished speakers with extensive expertise on gender issues and workplace safety, including:
- Dr. Ogwu J. Onoja, SAN – Chairman, NBA Welfare Committee
- Huwaila Mohammed – Chairperson, NBA Women’s Forum
- Confidence Ezeala – Program Officer, Gender Mobile Initiative
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The session was effectively moderated by:
- Auta Nyah – Welfare Secretary
- Blessing Udofa-Poromon – Treasurer
Attendance & Engagement
The webinar recorded an impressive turnout, with over 200 legal professionals actively participating in discussions and knowledge-sharing.
Key Takeaways
The discussion brought to light several critical insights, including:
- Prevalence & Impact: Sexual harassment remains a serious issue in the legal profession, affecting the well-being and career progression of victims.
- Safe Workplace Culture: A conducive work environment is necessary for inclusivity, gender equality, and professionalism.
- Preventive Strategies: Education, awareness, and clear reporting mechanisms are essential to addressing and mitigating sexual harassment.
- Collective Commitment: Lawyers, law firms, and the NBA must work together to ensure a harassment-free legal space.
Conclusion
The webinar was a resounding success, providing a much-needed platform for discussions, awareness, and proactive solutions. The NBA’s commitment to fostering a safe and inclusive legal environment is highly commendable, and this session marked an important milestone in that journey.
Recommendations
Following the discussions, the NBA Welfare Committee has made the following recommendations:
- Continued Awareness & Training: Regular educational programs and sensitization sessions should be organized to equip legal practitioners with knowledge on workplace harassment.
- Institutional Policies: Law firms and legal organizations should implement and enforce clear anti-harassment policies with robust reporting and disciplinary procedures.
- Active Stakeholder Involvement: A collective approach, involving all legal professionals, is necessary to drive meaningful change.
Next Steps
The NBA Welfare Committee is dedicated to sustaining this momentum by initiating more conversations, trainings, and policies aimed at eliminating sexual harassment in the legal profession. Future engagements will focus on policy implementation, support mechanisms for victims, and enforcement of legal frameworks to uphold professional integrity.
Final Thoughts
The webinar was highly interactive, engaging, and impactful, with legal professionals actively contributing to the discourse. This event marks a significant step towards a safer, more respectful, and inclusive legal profession.
Together, we can foster a legal community where dignity, fairness, and professionalism thrive.
Signed:
Blessing Udofa-Poromon – Treasurer
