Today, on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, trade unions across the world take action for the right of everyone to a world of work free from violence and harassment. They will maintain this action for 16 days of activism, 25 November – 10 December, calling for the further ratification of ILO Convention 190.
La Strada International and its members are also advocating for the ratification of C190, as well as other ILO Conventions. The project Hidden at Work, coordinated by LSI’s member FairWork, focuses on the prevention of gender based violence, specifically at the informal workplace, by addressing labour and sexual exploitation and harassment of women at work.
ILO Convention 190 and Recommendation 206 recognise that women workers, in all their diversity, including racialised and migrant workers, young workers, workers living with disabilities or belonging to LGBTQ+ communities, are more exposed to violence and harassment as well as to the impacts of domestic violence at work. Globally, now nine governments have ratified C190. For Europe so far only Greece and Italy. France, the UK, Spain and Germany have committed to ratifying C190. We hope European countries will join, as:
It is time that more European countries ratify this important convention!
On 25 November, the ITUC will be hosting webinars and posting information on this Facebook page. Materials can downloaded with the ITUC campaign tool kit.