25 November, 2024Today, on International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, IndustriALL Global Union reflects on a year of progress and renews the commitment to eradicate gender-based violence and harassment (GBVH) in the workplace.
This year is particularly significant as IndustriALL marks the ongoing first year of the #NoExcuse policy against GBVH, misogyny, and sexism, adopted in November 2023. The policy is a key component of the broader #NoExcuse Campaign, which was launched on 8 March 2024, International Women's Day and aims to foster a cultural shift towards zero tolerance of any form of violence within workplaces and unions.
#NoExcuse Policy
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The policy includes a set of comprehensive recommendations that outline steps for enhancing workplace safety, improving reporting mechanisms, and supporting victims. For ease of access and distribution, a summarized poster version of these recommendations is available, providing a visual and concise reference that can be used in unions and workplaces.
Access and share the poster here:
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The urgency of these efforts is highlighted by alarming statistics from the United Nations; globally, a woman is intentionally killed by a partner or family member every ten minutes. Furthermore, the rise of digital platforms has introduced new challenges, with 16 to 58 per cent of women worldwide experiencing technology-facilitated gender-based violence. Younger women, particularly from Generation Z and Millennials, are disproportionately affected.
In response to these challenges, IndustriALL is equipping its affiliates with the tools necessary to combat GBVH effectively. Since 2017, several campaigns have been launched, and resources have been made available, including:
- Ready-to-use training modules on GBVH prevention and case handling
- A joint global unions Train the Trainers Toolkit, which supports the implementation of the ILO Convention 190 on eliminating violence and harassment in the world of work
- Domestic violence and the role of unions explained!
- Take the pledge:
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IndustriALL calls on affiliates to engage in the 16 days of activism. Members are encouraged to share information and photos of their union's actions using the hashtag #NoExcuse and to visit IndustriALL’s website and social media channels for continuous updates and recommendations on driving cultural change.
"Our collective efforts over the past year have laid a strong foundation for a safer and more equitable workplace. Let us carry this momentum forward, ensuring that our workplaces not only foster but demand respect, dignity, and safety for all women. Together, we are building a legacy of change that will resonate for generations to come,"
says IndustriALL assistant general secretary, Christina Olivier.
IndustriALL is dedicated to creating an environment free from institutional misogyny and sexism, where trust and safety are paramount and continues to advocate for comprehensive training, awareness-raising, and the negotiation of collective bargaining agreements that specifically target the elimination of sexual harassment.
Join us in this crucial movement towards a world where no woman has to endure violence and harassment, be it at home, in public, or at the workplace.