On the 100th anniversary of the International Labour Organization (ILO), we celebrate a historic milestone: for the first time, there is a legally-binding convention supplemented by a recommendation that establishes global standards to end gender-based violence (GBV) and harassment in the world of work. This concludes a multi-year process of discussion and negotiation with Member States, employers and worker representatives, and recognizes that GBV in the world of work is a human rights violation. The final vote occurred at the end of the International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva on June 21, 2019.
The progress in moving from widespread awareness of GBV in the world of work, to specific standards providing accountability to end it, is the direct result of pressure and support from women’s rights and labor rights advocates around the world, including the 16 Days community who embraced our global call to action #ILOendGBV. This Convention will positively impact billions of women around the world, and provide a strong foundation for continued progress in our effort to secure equality, regardless of identity.
