Sexual harassment in academia: The new battle of Éléonore Yayi Ladékan

Violence against women is observed in almost all sectors where women are found, in households, in the administration, training and instruction centers, etc. and come in several forms, including sexual harassment. A phenomenon that annoys more than one, in particular the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research (Mesrs), Éléonore Yayi Ladékan who, Tuesday 23 mars 2021 held with the University of Abomey Calavi academic community (UAC), exchanges on this hot topic. This in the presence of his colleague from Social Affairs and Microfinance, Véronique Tognifodé and the Honorable Médégan Fagla.

Sexual harassment from attendance lists, sexual harassment through abuse of the teaching status, through the students, in particular the managers, by romantic acts and also by relatives of coveted students are among others the different forms of pressure that young students undergo in the different entities of the universities of Benin. According to the president of the Association of Women for Education, training and scientific research in Benin (Afefrs), Docteur Yvette Onibon Doubogan, studies on the problem of harassment in public universities “confirm its existence and its different facets, with different ways of making contact between the harasser and the harassed person ”.

The aim of organizing this session is therefore to curb this practice that the Rector of UAC, Maxim Da-Cruz describes as a "tragedy" and which deals a blow to the Beninese education system in general and the university one in particular.

For Minister Eléonore Y. Ladékan, the phenomenon of sexual harassment in academia, "Does not only concern girls but boys are also naively used and the latter play a very important role", she told the audience before asking, "If we understand how a phenomenon like sexual harassment in academia manifests itself?, why not find the means and resources to provide solutions ? ».

The explanatory factors of this growing scourge ...

“A study carried out in 2009 on violence against women in Benin revealed the extent of the phenomenon of gender-based violence, which affects approximately 69% of women, among these acts of violence we can cite sexual harassment, which several factors explain ", said Doctor Yvette Onibon Doubogan. Among the factors mentioned by the president of Afefrs we have the patriarchal social context which enshrines the domination of the masculine principle over the feminine one., ignorance of educational ethics and academic ethics, the omission on practices, in particular the fear of denouncing, to be punished by denouncing and to be stigmatized and the absence of real sanctions despite the existence of a legal and legislative framework in the matter with Law N ° 2006-19 of 05 September 2006 repressing sexual harassment and protecting victims in the Republic of Benin.

 Confronted with this, Minister Ladékan did not fail to reassure people who are victims of sexual harassment in public universities in Benin to denounce them "You have no reason to be afraid to denounce because we have just shown you that the framework is there to protect you but it is not fully formalized. These discussions on the issue will allow us to do so, and every year, each university will organize itself so that university authorities can find time to listen to your problems ".

The implications of sexual harassment in academia ...

For those who suffer it, sexual harassment in a university setting could have an implication in the latter in the event of refusals, repeated failure, nomadism in university entities, dropping out of university training, etc.. Victims may also be confronted with psychological disorders, a possible nervous breakdown, anxiety, the feeling of guilt. There is also in case of acceptance, obtaining unearned diplomas, and the development of poor professional skills.   

The responsibility of the victims ...

Most of the time, sexual harassment puts a strain on men who are considered to be the primary actors in this phenomenon, but transactional sex is a reality in universities. In addition to the academic favors often sought after, students are also looking for financial or material support. These transactional interactions make sex acts a commodity. It constitutes a form of corruption, because it is about bribing a superior to obtain benefits.

To behave…

During this exchange session, the ministers of higher education and of social affairs and of microfinance as well as the university authorities did not miss the opportunity to give some approaches to the behavior to be taken in the face of the evolution of this evil.

"It is no longer a taboo subject and therefore parents should be open to you, this is why we made the decision to receive the heads of the association of parents of pupils and students. As for you, leaving your home for your respective universities, always reassure your parents in your behavior and in your performance ”, underlined Minister Eléonore Yayi Ladékan, and Uac rector Maxim Da-Cruz that all measures must be taken to protect young students from the situation. Besides this, students to slow down the development of the scourge need to be educated, informed and sensitized, this would also apply to all players in the university space. Law enforcement should be done to effectively enforce the penalties provided.

Firmin KASSAGA