30 October, 201425 November is declared by the United Nations as the day of elimination of violence against women. Trade unions fighting for equal rights of all workers are well placed in leading this struggle.
In Sub-Saharan Africa between 36 and 71 per cent of women have experienced physical or sexual violence at the hands of a husband or intimate partner. In North America domestic violence causes more death and disability among women aged 16 to 44 than cancer or traffic accidents. On average 92 women are raped every day in India. 35 per cent of women worldwide have experienced violence whether physical and/or sexual. Between 40 and 50 per cent of women experience unwanted sexual advances, physical contact or other forms of sexual harassment at work.
Sexual harassment is particularly prevalent in the garment industry. At the first IndustriALL women’s workshop in Ethiopia in 2013, sexual harassment at a particular factory was highlighted and action was taken accordingly. Awareness raising and training were carried out and the reported cases of sexual harassment has significanty gone down. In Jordan’s garment industry the Better Work Program has contributed to factories having zero tolerance for sexual harassment. Managers are on notice, and it has become a business risk.
In the light of the escalating violence against women trade unions have adopted the fight against violence as a union issue. IndustriALL Global Union affiliate United Steel Workers (USW) states:
There is no place for violence against women at work or anywhere else.
And North American affiliate Unifor has an anti-violence oath:
I swear never to commit, excuse or remain silent about violence against women. This is my oath.
Trade unions are calling upon the ILO to start the discussions on a new international standard on gender-based violence. An ILO standard would be helpful for collective bargaining agreements on violence and for making the most of social dialogue to prevent it. Employers should have an interest in creating a workplace free of violence.
For this purpose trade unions need to lobby their governments to support such an international standard.
These and other initiatives will be the focus this year on marking 25 November, the global day to combat violence against women. Please share with IndustriALL your work on eliminating violence against women on that and other days.