ILO campaigning to prevent violence and harassment in the workplace

Public encouraged to share campaign materials on social media

ILO campaigning to prevent violence and harassment in the workplace
“Violence and harassment at work takes a range of forms and leads to physical, psychological, sexual and economic harm.”

The International Labour Organization (ILO) is launching a global campaign to promote the ratification and implementation of Convention No. 190 on violence and harassment in the workplace.

The campaign aims to explain in simple terms what the Violence and Harassment Convention, 2019 (No. 190) is, the issues it covers and how it seeks to address violence and harassment in the world of work.

“Violence and harassment at work takes a range of forms and leads to physical, psychological, sexual and economic harm. Since the Convention was adopted the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the issue further, with many forms of work-related violence and harassment being reported across countries since the outbreak began, particularly against women and vulnerable groups,” according to the organization.

In March, Ontario launched consultations with the municipal sector to ensure that councillors and heads of council maintain a safe and respectful workplace.

Canada’s military is also facing issues of workplace violence.

Campaign’s reach

The global campaign will also reach out to governments, employers’ and workers’ organizations, civil society and private sector companies, as well as policy makers, businesses and partners, according to ILO.

Celebrities will also lend their voices to amplify the campaign messages. The public can also take part by downloading assets from the ILO campaign hub and sharing them on social media.

“Together with Recommendation No. 206, Convention No. 190 recognizes the right of everyone to a world of work free from violence and harassment, and provides a common framework for action. It provides the first internationally accepted definition of violence and harassment in the world of work, including gender-based violence and harassment,” said ILO.

To date six countries have ratified the Convention – Argentina, Ecuador, Fiji, Namibia, Somalia and Uruguay.

RELATED STORIES