By Stephen V. Lansana
Campaign for Human Rights and Development International (CHRDI), has on Wednesday November 23, 2022 called on authorities in Sierra Leone, including law enforcement agencies, to verify the facts of investigations and where appropriate to expeditiously prosecute human rights violations signified most recently by allegations of sexual harassment against the Managing Director of Rokel Commercial Bank. CHRDI is a rights-based social policy advocacy organization.
According to CHRDI, sexual harassment in the workplace is common in Sierra Leone and takes many forms, noting that violence against women because of their gender is rather widespread in the country.
“As a result, news stories about sexual harassment in the workplace pointing to larger issues in other settings, such as our homes, streets, and larger communities, far beyond the confines of the workplace,” CHRDI said in a statement which focuses mainly on the alleged sexual harassment of Rokel Bank employees all of whom are women.
. “Around the globe, including Sierra Leone, women are disproportionately affected by sexual harassment and other gender-based violence. Time and again, many female employees in the financial service industry and other sectors of the workforce in Sierra Leone are compelled to work in intimidating, hostile or humiliating atmosphere, where they are subjected to various types of unwanted sexual overtures, including improper jokes and insinuations, sexually suggestive statements, unsolicited physical contacts bordering on assault, and outright requests for sexual favors.”
CHRDI pointed out that many people who are targets of sexual harassment in the workplace, especially women, maintain a code of silence because they are afraid of not being believed, being blamed, afraid they will be targets of social or professional ostracization, will lose their job or their legal resident status, or endure retaliation.
CHRDI said that after years of advocacy and negotiations, in June 2019, the government, employers, and members of the International Labour Organization (ILO) adopted a groundbreaking multilateral treaty known as the Violence and Harassment Convention, noting that the treaty, which came into effect in June 2021, is the first to set international legal standards for preventing and responding to violence and harassment in the workplace.
“CHRDI’s interview with employees of Rokel Commercial Bank revealed that many workers are not aware of their rights or of employer responsibilities under the Sexual Offenses Law and have not undergone preventive trainings at work. Even if workers know a little bit about the law, they can’t safely get real protection without strong protections against retaliation,” CHRDI maintained.
CHRDI said women deserve equal participation in the world of work, free from violence, harassment, and any form of discrimination. Unfortunately, stories in the news suggest that safe workplaces do not exist for many women in the financial service industry in Sierra Leone, such as at Rokel Commercial Bank.
CHRDI said that the arrangements at the workplace designed to redress grievances must meet the needs of victims, include techniques designed to prevent retaliation. “Both of these elements are important for combating sexual harassment in the workplace. However, none of these elements are discernible in the grievance mechanism of Rokel Commercial Bank. Although both men and women can be victims of sexual harassment at work, more women than men are victims,” CHRDI added.
According to CHRDI, the failure of the Board of Directors at Rokel Commercial Bank to follow state laws and their governing agency has made it harder for the Sierra Leone government to meet its obligations under national and international laws, including those anchored in human rights, to protect female workers from employer abuse and afford them viable opportunities to redress such abuse, noting that several bank workers we spoke to in Freetown informed us that their offices do not have any specific policies or remedies for sexual harassment in their workplace.
“Moreover, as the case of Rokel Commercial Bank illustrates, to the extent that they exist at all, the regulations in the workplace on sexual harassment are not generally followed,” CHRDI emphasized. “For far too long in this country, women have been targets of gender-based discrimination and violence in the workplace”.
CHRDI appealed to the Sierra Leone Police and the justice sectors Sierra Leone to join in the fight for safe workplaces for all workers. Sexual harassment can happen to anyone, but it usually happens to women and reinforces stereotypes about their abilities and goals.
Sexual harassment detracts from productivity in the workplace and it undermines equality for women. It can have a negative impact on victims’ pay, career progression, and working conditions, and potentially drive individuals out of the world of work.
Less than two months from now bring us into 2023. Now therefore is the time to set the ground for a society that is safe, peaceful, and prosperous for everyone. It is in this spirit that we call on the Bank’s shareholders, customers, and Visa Inc. to demand respect for women’s rights at Rokel Commercial Bank.
CHRDI calls on the Sierra Leone authorities, including law enforcement agencies, to verify the facts of the investigation and where appropriate, follow through with prosecution expeditiously, adding that the legal opinion issued by the Bank of Sierra Leone on the alleged sexual harassment, as well as the Four Man Special Investigation Report, demonstrates the importance of a redress mechanism in the fight against impunity.
The experience described in the Rokel Commercial Bank Special Investigation Committee report shows the urgent need for a right mix of measures, both carrot and stick, which promotes a business culture that respects human rights. The Sierra Leone authorities should ensure that all government institutions dealing with business and the judiciary, together with the Human Rights Commission, have the necessary resources and training to provide effective oversight of corporate behavior and corporate accountability.