16 days of activism against gender violence

The 25th of November is #UNDay for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and launches #16days of activism on ending violence against women (25 November – 10 December) around the world.

Global union federations are responding to this year’s theme to “UNiTE! Activism to End Violence Against Women and Girls” by speaking out with one voice. Every day for 16 days, global trade unions share and spotlight how violence and harassment is affecting women in the world of work, alongside actions governments, employers and trade unions can take,  to address this- including using the tool of ILO Convention 190, while also celebrating the powerful grassroot campaigns unions are building.

To mark this year’s 16 Days of Activism, the ITF is launching a new report on the impacts of Covid-19 on women transport workers, based on research conducted in seven countries across West and Central Africa. The report highlights that women suffered a disproportionate loss to their livelihoods as well as increased violence and harassment both at work and at home. The report also describes how women now face a double burden of increased pressure at work and increased unpaid caring and domestic responsibilities. The  Impacts of the pandemic on women workers are long-term and have potential risk to lead to systemic exclusion of women from decent jobs in the transport sector.

As we continue to learn about the impacts of the pandemic, this #16days of activism, we provide four urgent recommendations for unions to raise gender equality in the Covid-19 response and recovery plans proposed by governments and employers.

To improve women’s employment in the wake of mass layoffs, unions are encouraged to lobby governments and employers to ensure gender concerns are factored into formalisation and restructuring processes, and to address the double burden placed on women through more flexible working hours, shift patterns and improved parental leave. 

To address violence and harassment, unions should also lobby governments to ratify and implement C190, and apply a gender-responsive approach to crisis management. 

To improve conditions at work, unions must advocate that employers integrate the language of C190 into workplace policy so that domestic violence is recognised as a workplace issue. 

Finally, all unions should educate their members about the unacceptability of violence and harassment and take proactive measures to ensure women’s participation in  leadership roles.

The report ends by sharing powerful case studies where unions have stopped the layoffs of women transport workers or campaigned about violence and harassment in the pandemic. Have you seen powerful examples of campaigns like this either where you work or through activities with your union? 

We would like to hear from you on Twitter or on Facebook. Let us all take action to work towards the elimination of violence and harassment against women transport workers. #RatifyC190 #16Days
 

DEMAND YOUR GOVERNMENT RATIFIES ILO CONVENTION 190 

So far, 22 countries have ratified ILO Convention 190 on violence and harassment in the world of work.

The Convention has entered into force for nine countries: Argentina, Ecuador, Fiji, Greece, Italy, Mauritius, Namibia, Somalia and Uruguay, meaning its provisions have become binding on these States. 

C190, is the ILO’s first international convention that directly targets eradicating violence and harassment, including gender-based violence,  in the ‘the world of work’. Importantly, it includes incidents in the course of, linked with, or arising out of work – but also extends beyond the workplace to places where workers use sanitation facilities as well as commuting to and from work. 

Equal and safe workplaces benefit everyone - and that’s why ITF affiliates are taking the pledge to commit to campaigning for C190 ratification and implementation. 

To support your campaigns, we urge you to use the ITF C190 toolkit.