The director of Women in Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF), Melody Darkey, has drawn attention to the pervasive but underreported issue of gender and sexual-based violence, including sexual harassment, in Ghana.
She noted that victims and survivors of such violence, face emotional and psychological consequences, including Post Traumatic Stress Disorders, feelings of guilt, shame, and loss of confidence.
Melody Darkey who was speaking at a conference on the draft model gender workplace policy, emphasized that unchecked workplace gender-based violence contributes to a toxic work environment, ultimately affecting productivity.
She pointed out that issues like sexual and gender-based violence, including sexual harassment, can lead to decreased productivity, increased staff turnover, legal liabilities, and the cultivation of a negative work culture.
She therefore advocated for the implementation of policies within organizations to address these pressing issues.
“As you know, the issue of gender and sexual-based violence, including sexual harassment, is pervasive in Ghana but underreported. For victims and survivors of gender-based violence, apart from the known consequences, there are also, if unchecked, workplace gender-based violence also has emotional and psychological effects and consequences on the victims and survivors, and these can manifest in various forms; there can be Post Traumatic Stress Disorders, feelings of guilt, shame, loss of confidence, among others.
“For organizations involved, unchecked Gender-based violence likely results in a toxic work environment which will affect productivity. For example, if unchecked, issues of sexual and gender-based violence, including sexual harassment, can result in decreased productivity, increased staff turnover, legal liability, and a very negative work culture. Therefore, it makes a lot of business sense that organizations would involve policies that address these issues,” she stated.
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