International Health Awareness Network Endorses the Advocacy Letter to ratify ILO Convention 190
IHAN is pleased to announce that [along with 551 civil society organizations] it has endorsed the NGO Coalition to End Violence and Harassment in the World of Work’s Advocacy Letter to support the ratification of ILO Convention 190.
The convention calls for “the elimination of violence and harassment in the world of work.”
The NGO Coalition is an initiative of four substantive committees of the Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations (CoNGO): the NGO Committee on Financing for Development, the NGO Committee on the Status of Women (NY), the NGO Committee on Social Development and the NGO Committee on Migration, in partnership with the NGO Committee to Stop Trafficking in Persons.
Having secured the required two ratifications by June 2020, the Convention will enter into force one year later, on June 25, 2021.
More information about the letter can be found at:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1yXN364uvURSg5yi7HhydbUT2uCNTeLp8YKp1uX8ndow/edit
Excellency,
We, the undersigned organizations and individuals, working in collaboration with the NGO Coalition to End Violence and Harassment in the World of Work, applaud the historic adoption of the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Convention 190 (2019), concerning the elimination of violence and harassment in the world of work. Further, we call upon all Member States of the United Nations to ratify C190, and to move resolutely towards effective implementation without delay.
The NGO Coalition is an initiative of four substantive committees of the Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations (CoNGO) which have come together to assure ratification and implementation of ILO C 190: the NGO Committee on Financing for Development, the NGO Committee on the Status of Women (NY), the NGO Committee on Social Development and the NGO Committee on Migration, in partnership with the NGO Committee to Stop Trafficking in Persons. The Coalition was created to advance ratification of ILO C 190 and to promote its long-term goal of ending violence and harassment in the world of work.
Numerous reports1 have highlighted the pervasiveness of violence and harassment in the world of work, and their negative impacts on the physical, mental, emotional, social, and economic well-being of those affected. The UN Secretary General's Report on Violence against Women Migrant Workers (July 2019)2, urges Member States to ratify and implement ILO C 190, and to protect migrant women from violence in the world of work, while the UN General Assembly Resolution A/Res/74/1273 notes the Convention, and urges Member States to adopt effective measures to combat violence and harassment impacting migrant women workers.
The COVID 19 crisis sped up trends in the changing world of work, and exacerbated pressure on populations facing the most vulnerabilities especially, women, youth, children, migrants and refugees as well as people with disabilities. The risks faced by workers, including domestic violence affecting women working from home, cyber-bullying4 in the case of tele-working, health risks faced by frontline workers in the health, agriculture, food-production, processing, distribution and other sectors are compounded and potentially deadly in the
1 https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---dgreports/---gender/documents/briefingnote/wcms_738115.pdf, https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---dgreports/---gender/documents/publication/wcms_744676.pdf , https://www.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2020/04/brief-online-and-ict-facilitated-violence-against-women-and-girls-during- covid-19
2 https://undocs.org/en/A/74/235
3 https://undocs.org/en/A/RES/74/127
4 http://info.primarycare.hms.harvard.edu/blog/sexual-violence-and-covidhttps://www.saiglobal.com/hub/blog/sexual-harassment-in-a- changing-workplace-through-the-context-of-culture-and-covid-19
absence of standards. Economic hardships and food insecurity have increased dramatically for those faced with unemployment and precarious work. Increased risks for work-related violence form part of these deteriorating socio-economic trends.
However, the crisis also presents an opportunity to abandon the old "normal", and to transform the world of work for the betterment of peoples' lives. The crisis has served to highlight the urgent need to protect all people from violence and harassment across the full range of workplaces and work-related activities impacting their daily lives. Governments must rise to the challenges of creating safe workplaces free of violence and harassment.
For these reasons, ratification of ILO C 190 is critical, as well as the full implementation of the Convention and its accompanying Recommendation 206. Together, these instruments provide the legislative and policy framework as well as detailed guidelines for addressing violence and harassment in the world of work, including gender-based violence. They apply to all types of workplaces in the formal and informal economy, including domestic work, and work from home.
Now is the time to act.
1. Because an inclusive, integrated and gender-responsive approach is vitally needed for ensuring that no one – including all workers and other persons in the world of work, both in the formal and informal sectors, in rural and urban areas, and irrespective of their contractual status – is subject to violence and harassment occurring in the course of, linked with or arising out of work, regardless of the type of workplace.
2. Because good practice requires an overarching framework of laws and policies informed by the provisions of C 190 and R 206. These should encompass prevention, protection, enforcement, human rights, inclusion, equality, non-discrimination, occupational safety and health, remedies for those affected, as well as guidance and training for those implementing workplace programs.
3. Because ratification of ILO C 190 reinforces implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG 3, the realization of inclusive human development and well-being, SDG 5, regarding gender equality and the elimination of violence against women, SDG 8 and 9, regarding the promotion of decent work and sustainable enterprises.
4. Because the UN is celebrating its 75th anniversary, and the 25th anniversary of the 4th World Conference on Women held in Beijing, China in 1995. Specifically, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in its 12 Critical Areas of Concern calls for ending violence against women (D), and recognizing women’s human rights and their right to work (F). The UN itself endorses human rights and non-violence.
5. Because certain categories of persons often find themselves in vulnerable situations which can lead to violence and harassment in the world of work. Such persons include migrants, domestic workers, persons from marginal or minority groups, low caste women, trafficked persons, LGBTQ, youth, children, older persons, people with disabilities, and persons living with HIV. Legal protections can prevent occurrences of violence and harassment, providing redress and protections from reprisals or threats often compounded by vulnerability.
6. Because the costs of violence and harassment are on the rise, and because this impacts both the public and private sectors with regard to the well-being of workers, enterprise productivity and profitability. ILO C 190 is key to addressing these challenges and to achieving a positive organizational culture, and a safe, productive work environment.
We, through the following signatures, endorse ILO C 190, recognizing everyone’s right to be free from violence and harassment in the world of work and to safety, dignity and respect at work. We urge all Member States to join those Governments that have already ratified the Convention, in adopting and adhering to these ILO standards aimed at effectively addressing the pressing issues of violence and harassment in the world of work.
Endorsing Organizations (as of August 25, 2020):
NGOs in consultative status with the UN ECOSOC:
ABAAD - Resource Centre for Gender Equality
ACT Alliance
ActionAid Nigeria
Africa Development Interchange Network
African Action of Aids (AAA)
Afrihealth Optonet Association
Aid Organization
All India Women's Conference
All India Women's Education Fund Association (AIWEFA)
All Win Network
Alliance for Arab Women
American Association of Jurists
Appui Solidaire Pour Le Renforcement Del Aide Au Developpment (ASRAD)
APWW/ NAWO
Armenian Relief Society
Associated Country Women of the World
Association d'Aide à l'Education de l'Enfant Handicapé (AAEEH)
Association for Farmers Rights Defense, AFRD
Association For Promotion Sustainable Development
Association Pour Les Victimes Du Monde
Aube Nouvelle pour la Femme et le Développement ( ANFD)
Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio & Communication(BNNRC)
Beyond Beijing Committee Nepal
BPW BRASIL
BPW International
BPW Spain
Breakthrough
Buddha's Light International Association
Building & Wood Workers International (BWI)
Bureau Pour la Croissance Intégrale et la Dignité de l'Enfant
Business and Professional Woman New Zealand
Canadian Voice of Women for Peace
Carbone Guinée
CARE International
Catolicas por el Derecho a Decidir/ Catholics for the Right to Decide (CDD Mexico)
Center for Egyptian Women's Legal Assistance (CEWLA)
Center Women and Modern World
Centre for Social Research
Centre for the Sustainable use of Natural and social Resources (CSNR)
CEPARD
Chavara Cultural Centre Kochi
Chirapaq, Centro de Culturas Indígenas del Perú
Collectif Senegalais des Africaines pour la Promotion de l'Education Relative a l'Environnement
Community Initiatives for Development in Pakistan
Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd
Congregations of St. Joseph
Consultation.Education.Evaluation, Inc.
Convention of Independent Financial Advisors (CIFA)
Coordinadora de la Mujer
DAWN (Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era)
Disability Inclusive Development Programs And Services
Dominica National Council of Women
Dominican Leadership Conference
Earth Child Institute
Ecoforum of NGOs of Uzbekistan
ECPAT-USA
Edmund Rice International
Education International
Education Foundation for African Women
Empower India
Equal Rights for Persons with Disabilities International, Inc
Equality Rights Alliance (YWCA Australia)
Equidad de Género: Ciudadanía, Trabajo y Familia
EQUIS: Justicia para las Mujeres A.C.
European Union of Women
EWLCoordination of Greek NGO's for the European
FEMNET
FOKUS -Forum for Women and Development
Fondazione Proclade Internazionale-onlus (Claretian Missionaries)
Fundación Mexicana para la Planeación Familiar, A. C. MEXFAM
Fundacion para Estudio e Invstigacion de la MUjer
Gatef organization
Gender at Work
Generation Initiative for Women and Youth Network
Gestos (soropositividade, comunicação, gênero)
Global Distribution Advocates, Inc.
Global Peace and Development Organization
Glorious City Foundation
Good Shepherd, Amrat talitha kum India
Green and Better World
Haiti Cholera Research Funding Foundation Inc USA
Hape Development and welfare Association
His Marvellous Grace Support Foundation
Human Rights Sanrakshan Sansthaa
International Council of Jewish Women (ICJW)
International Federation Of Training And Development Organizations (IFTDO)
IMSCO
Institute for Multicultural Counseling and Education Services, INC
Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Loreto Generalate
International Association for Religious Freedom Co-ordination Council for South Asia
International Association of Democratic Lawyers
International Association of World Peace Advocates
International Cooperative Alliance
International Federation of Business and Professional Women
International Federation of Women in Legal Careers
International Federation of Women Lawyers
International Health Awareness network
International Network of liberal women Moroccan chapter
International Network of Women Engineers and Scientists
International Presentation Association
International Trade Union Confederation
International Transport Workers Federation
International Union for Land Value Taxation
International Women’s Anthropolgy Conference
International Women's Rights Action Watch Asia Pacific (IWRAW-AP)
Kaurareg Aboriginal Land Trust
KAV-Wien / KAVÖ - Pax Romana/
Kolping International
LAYA
League of Women Voters
League of Women Voters of Nigeria (NILOWV)
League of Women Voters of the United States
Les femmes, la force du changement
Líderes Ciudadanos en Pro de la Cultura de la Legalidad A.C.
Local Community Development Association
Lutheran World Federation
Man Up Campaign US, Inc.
Manusher Jonno Foundation
Martha Justice Ministry/Sisters of Charity Federation
Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers
Medical Mission Sisters
Medical Women’s International Association
Mercy International Association - Global Action
Mmawt Legacy Inititative
Montana chapter of the National Organization for Women
MUC
Murna Foundation
National Alliance of Women's Organizations
National Council of Women of Canada
National Council of Women of Great Britain
National Federation of Business and Professional Women-NYC
National Women's Council of Catalonia (Consell Nacional de les Dones de Catalunya)
NAWO UK
National Board of Catholic Women (NBCW)
Neighbourhood Community Network
Network of Rural Women Producers Trinidad and Tobego
New Future Foundation inc
Nonviolence International
Nuba Mountains International Association
NZ Federation of Business & Professional Women
Ohaha Family Foundation
OISAT/WASAT
Okogun Odigie Safewomb International Foundation (OOSAIF)
Omaniae Ghana
Omaniae VZW
PA Women's organization Alga
Pakistan Rural Workers Social Welfare Organization
Pan Pacific and South East Asia Women's Association (PPSEAWA)
Passionist International
Pathways To Peace (PTP)
Peace and Life Enhancement Initiative International
Plan International
Portuguese Platform for Women's Rights
/ Plataforma Portuguesa para os Direitos das Mulheres
Poverty Elimination and Community Education (PEACE) Foundation
Public Services International
Radanar Ayar Association
Ramatu
Red Dot Foundation
Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary NGO
REPEM
Rose Academies
Rural People's Sangam
Sahkar Social Welfare Association
Salesian Missions, Inc.
Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled
School Sisters of Notre Dame
Self-Help Association for Rural people through Education and Entrepreneurship
SERAC-Bangladesh
Servas International
SERVITAS Cameroon
Settlement Service International (Australia)
Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples
Shirley Ann Sullivan Educational Foundation
Silambam Asia
Sisters of Charity Federation
Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur
Socialist International Women
Sonke Gender Justice
Soroptimist International
Soroptimist International Great Britain and Ireland
Soroptimist International of Europe
Sovereign Military Order of the Temple of Jerusalem - OSMTH
Stichting TIYE International
Sugur Development Agency (SUDA)
Temple of Understanding
Teresian Association
The Egyptian Center for Women's Rights
The Young Christian education club of Zambia
Trust for Youth Child Leadership
UN Women USA
UNANIMA International
UNESCO Center for Peace
Unión de Asociaciones Familiares (UNAF)
Union of Soroptimist clubs in the Netherlands, Surinam & Curacao
United Nations Association (UNA - USA), Westchester (NY) chapter
United Nations Association of the USA
United Nations Association of the USA, San Diego Chapter
United Religions Initiative (URI)
Verein zur Förderung der Völkerversständigung
Vicar Hope Foundation
Virginia Gildersleeve International Fund (DBA Women First International Fund)
Virtual Activism
Wave Foundation
WOLMI
Womankind Worldwide
Women and Media Collective
Women and Modern World Social Charitable Center
Women Deliver
Women Entrepreneurship Platform WEP)
Women for Water Partnership
Women Graduates-USA
Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation, WOTCLEF
WomenNC, NC Committee for CSW/CEDAW
Women's World Summit Foundation
Word of Life International, Inc.
World Christian Life Community
World Federation of Methodist and Uniting Church Women
World Federation of Ukrainian Women's Organizations
World Roma Fderation
Young Christian education club of Zambia ycecz
Youth Bridge Foundation
Youth for transparency int'l
Youth Foundation of Bangladesh
Youth in Technology And Arts Network- YOTAN
YWCA Australia
YWCA of Nigeria
Zonta International
NGOs associated with the UN DGC and other UN processes:
Abundant Grace Female Foundation
Africa Rise Foundation
American Medical Women's Association
Arab African American Women’s Leadership Council
Asociación Ciudadana por los Derechos Humanos
Asociación Latino-Americana de Abogados Laboralistas - ALAL
Association des Femmes de l'Europe Méridionale (AFEM)
Association of Nigerian Women Business Network
Associazione Culturale dei Triangoli e Della Buona Volonta Mondiale
Bangladesh Model Youth Parliament (Protiki Jubo Sangsad)
Berine and Bokwe foundation
BPW Canada
CADIRE CAMEROON ASSOCIATION
Chanmus inter religious peace foundation
Denis Miki Foundation
Feminist Task Force
Focus on Women Magazine
Franciscane Missionaries of Mary
Fundamental Human Rights & Rural Development Association FHRRDA
Global Socio-Economic and Financial Evolution Network- GSFEN
Global Welfare Association (GLOWA)
Greek League for Women’s Rights
Grace Spring Rehabilitation Home (GSRH)
IMAAP Projects
Innovations for Development
International Ass0ciation of Applied Psychology
Inwelle Study and Resource Centre
Iraqi Journalists Right Defense Association (IJRDA)
Kadesh International
Kushian Society For Developments And Human Rights
Lady B Bless Humanitarian Foundation
National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc
Nederlandse Vrouwen Raad
New Age International
NGO CSW
Nigerian Women Agro Allied Farmers Association
North Star NGO
ONG PADJENA
OPAD
OTOE
Parlement des Jeunes Leader de la Société Civile Guinéenne
Regional Center for International Development Corporation (RCIDC)
Regional Centre for International Development Corporation (RCIDC)
Réseau 2 Congo Genre et Développement
Rural Uplift Centre
Social Justice in Global Development
Society for the Improvement of Rural People(SIRP)
Solvang Chamber of Commerce
Sure We Can
Union des Amis Socio Culturels d'Action en Développement (UNASCAD)
United voices 4 peace
WAFAA International Foundation
Women and Children Initiatives Inc
Women Protection Organisation (WOPO)
World Silambam Association
Youth and Small Holder Farmers Association.
Additional NGOs:
284. 50by40
285. A Well-Informed Adolescent Initiative
286. Academics Stand Against Poverty
287. Action For Food Production - AFPRO
288. Activiste
289. Adaikalam Trust
290. Adéquations
291. African Bar Association
292.African Coalition on Green Growth
293.African Foundation for Environment and Development (AFED)
294.AgroBiz
295.Amal Safety Foundation
296.American Jewish World Service
297.Amis des Étrangers au Togo: ADET
298.Amnesty International (Activism)