In 2018, the 16 Days Campaign joined the global call for an ILO convention to end violence and harassment in the world of work, launching the #ILOendGBV hashtag. After the historic adoption of ILO Convention 190 and Recommendation 206 at the ILC in June 2019, we now mobilize to demand ratification of the instruments in countries across the globe. In 2019, the 16 Days Campaign launched the #RatifyILO190 hashtag, raising awareness of the importance of the convention to help influence a wave of ratifications. As part of our effort to build on the momentum of the campaign, moving from “16 to 365,” we will continue our advocacy for ratification and speedy implementation throughout the year.
To support this effort, the Center for Women’s Global Leadership has launched a Sector Focus Initiative to highlight the violence and discrimination faced by women in various labor sectors through a select curation of reports, multimedia, and news items in order to build an evidence-based case for the ratification of ILO Convention 190. This is particularly important as the convention is the first international, legally-binding instrument that addresses key issues, particularly through including a broad definition of a “worker” and including domestic violence as a world of work issue.
The Sector Focus Initiative presents applicable international standards as well as recommendations and reports by UN treaty monitoring bodies and special rapporteurs. We hope this will serve as a toolbox for activists and organizations seeking to incorporate international norms and standards in their advocacy for the rights of women workers.
The Sector Focus Initiative also highlights women worker’s stories to give a human face to gender-based violence in the world of work, and features contributions from experts in the field.
Over the coming months, we will release a Sector Focus on:
- domestic workers — available now
- garment workers — available now
- journalists — available now
- women in politics — available now
- agricultural workers — available now
- women health workers — available now
As a special intervention for the 63rd Commission on the Status of Women, we highlighted the theme of social protection, access to public services, and investments in infrastructure.
As part of the 2019 16 Days Campaign, in coordination with the theme of #RatifyILO190, we called attention to the relationship between intimate partner violence (IPV) and the world of work.
The Sector Focus is a work in progress; it will continue to expand to make it the most useful resource possible. If you have any suggestions for one of the Focus areas, please use this form to submit and we will follow up.
