Sexual harassment: Natasha takes case to UN forum

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has taken her standoff with Senate President Godswill to a United Nations forum.

Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended after submitting a petition against Akpabio over allegations of sexual harassment, which the latter denied.

Following her suspension, Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Akpabio of punishing her for refusing his sexual advances.

On Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan, who spoke at the Women in Parliament session during the Inter-Parliamentary Union meeting at the United Nations in New York, appealed for international intervention to hold the Nigerian Senate accountable.

She said she was experiencing political victimisation and intimidation for asking for an open and transparent investigation into her sexual harassment allegations against Akpabio.

“My call to the international community is that the world must not stay silent as democracy and women’s rights are rolled back in Nigeria. I call on human rights organisations, women’s movements, and democratic institutions to hold the Nigerian Senate accountable.

“Nigeria needs global partners to push for women’s political inclusion, safety, and protection from political harassment,” Akpoti-Uduaghan stated.

Speaking further, she called her suspension illegal and promised to continue the fight against what she called injustice.

“This is a clear case of political victimisation for speaking against corruption and gender-based violence. The United Nations Declaration defines sexual harassment as a form of gender violence. The Senate’s action is an assault on democracy.

“I was elected by my constituents to represent them, but powerful men have unilaterally silenced their voices by suspending me for six months.

“I will resist political intimidation. In the past few days, several male colleagues have urged me to apologise and retract my statements, but I told them I would not apologise for my truth.

“I will serve the six-month suspension, and on the very first day of my return, I will re-present my petition on sexual harassment. I will continue to do so until there is a fair and transparent investigation.

“This is bigger than me. No other woman in public office should ever be silenced again,” Akpoti-Uduaghan added.