By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

Female Lawyers in Anambra State have risen against alleged sexual harassment of girls working in an Onitsha-based company by Chinese expatriates working in same company.

The lawyers wondered why a female employee should be terminated without payment of any benefits for refusing sexual advances.

They alleged that the expatriates always entice the girls, adding that anyone that refuses to yield to their intimidation and harassment would be sacked.

A petition to the police written by the lawyers under the aegis of “Stand Up Women Society” was signed by Adaobinna Edozie and Nkolika Ebede, Chairperson and Secretary respectively.

The petition titled “Cases of Sexual Harassment, Human Rights and Labour Violations by the Expatriate Workers” partly reads: “Termination of one’s appointment without any justification and without payment of any benefits, exposure of the young girl to harsh weather with the attendant health risks, are also serious infringement of her fundamentalrights.

“We seriously view these issues especially the manner and situation in which they occurred as breaches and harassment of the highest order by these expatriates.

“We hereby pray, that you use your good offices to proper investigate into these atrocities and impunity with the aim of bringing the culprits to book.”

The state Commissioner of Police (CP) John Abang, who confirmed receipt of the petition said: “The matter is under investigation.”