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  • IHAN
    • Aug 30, 2020
    • 9 min read

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:


  1. ABAAD - Resource Centre for Gender Equality

  2. ACT Alliance

  3. ActionAid Nigeria

  4. Africa Development Interchange Network

  5. African Action of Aids (AAA)

  6. Afrihealth Optonet Association

  7. Aid Organization

  8. All India Women's Conference

  9. All India Women's Education Fund Association (AIWEFA)

  10. All Win Network

  11. Alliance for Arab Women

  12. American Association of Jurists

  13. Appui Solidaire Pour Le Renforcement Del Aide Au Developpment (ASRAD)

  14. APWW/ NAWO

  15. Armenian Relief Society

  16. Associated Country Women of the World

  17. Association d'Aide à l'Education de l'Enfant Handicapé (AAEEH)

  18. Association for Farmers Rights Defense, AFRD

  19. Association For Promotion Sustainable Development

  20. Association Pour Les Victimes Du Monde

  21. Aube Nouvelle pour la Femme et le Développement ( ANFD)

  22. Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio & Communication(BNNRC)

  23. Beyond Beijing Committee Nepal

  24. BPW BRASIL

  25. BPW International

  26. BPW Spain

  27. Breakthrough

  28. Buddha's Light International Association

  29. Building & Wood Workers International (BWI)

  30. Bureau Pour la Croissance Intégrale et la Dignité de l'Enfant

  31. Business and Professional Woman New Zealand

  32. Canadian Voice of Women for Peace

  33. Carbone Guinée

  34. CARE International

  35. Catolicas por el Derecho a Decidir/ Catholics for the Right to Decide (CDD Mexico)

  36. Center for Egyptian Women's Legal Assistance (CEWLA)

  37. Center Women and Modern World

  38. Centre for Social Research

  39. Centre for the Sustainable use of Natural and social Resources (CSNR)

  40. CEPARD

  41. Chavara Cultural Centre Kochi

  42. Chirapaq, Centro de Culturas Indígenas del Perú

  43. Collectif Senegalais des Africaines pour la Promotion de l'Education Relative a l'Environnement

  44. Community Initiatives for Development in Pakistan

  45. Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd

  46. Congregations of St. Joseph

  47. Consultation.Education.Evaluation, Inc.

  48. Convention of Independent Financial Advisors (CIFA)

  49. Coordinadora de la Mujer

  50. DAWN (Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era)

  51. Disability Inclusive Development Programs And Services

  52. Dominica National Council of Women

  53. Dominican Leadership Conference

  54. Earth Child Institute

  55. Ecoforum of NGOs of Uzbekistan

  56. ECPAT-USA

  57. Edmund Rice International

  58. Education International

  59. Education Foundation for African Women

  60. Empower India

  61. Equal Rights for Persons with Disabilities International, Inc

  62. Equality Rights Alliance (YWCA Australia)

  63. Equidad de Género: Ciudadanía, Trabajo y Familia

  64. EQUIS: Justicia para las Mujeres A.C.

  65. European Union of Women

  66. EWLCoordination of Greek NGO's for the European

  67. FEMNET

  68. FOKUS -Forum for Women and Development

  69. Fondazione Proclade Internazionale-onlus (Claretian Missionaries)

  70. Fundación Mexicana para la Planeación Familiar, A. C. MEXFAM

  71. Fundacion para Estudio e Invstigacion de la MUjer

  72. Gatef organization

  73. Gender at Work

  74. Generation Initiative for Women and Youth Network

  75. Gestos (soropositividade, comunicação, gênero)

  76. Global Distribution Advocates, Inc.

  77. Global Peace and Development Organization

  78. Glorious City Foundation

  79. Good Shepherd, Amrat talitha kum India

  80. Green and Better World

  81. Haiti Cholera Research Funding Foundation Inc USA

  82. Hape Development and welfare Association

  83. His Marvellous Grace Support Foundation

  84. Human Rights Sanrakshan Sansthaa

  85. International Council of Jewish Women (ICJW)

  86. International Federation Of Training And Development Organizations (IFTDO)

  87. IMSCO

  88. Institute for Multicultural Counseling and Education Services, INC

  89. Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Loreto Generalate

  90. International Association for Religious Freedom Co-ordination Council for South Asia

  91. International Association of Democratic Lawyers

  92. International Association of World Peace Advocates

  93. International Cooperative Alliance

  94. International Federation of Business and Professional Women

  95. International Federation of Women in Legal Careers

  96. International Federation of Women Lawyers

  97. International Health Awareness network

  98. International Network of liberal women Moroccan chapter

  99. International Network of Women Engineers and Scientists

  100. International Presentation Association

  101. International Trade Union Confederation

  102. International Transport Workers Federation

  103. International Union for Land Value Taxation

  104. International Women’s Anthropolgy Conference

  105. International Women's Rights Action Watch Asia Pacific (IWRAW-AP)

  106. Kaurareg Aboriginal Land Trust

  107. KAV-Wien / KAVÖ - Pax Romana/

  108. Kolping International

  109. LAYA

  110. League of Women Voters

  111. League of Women Voters of Nigeria (NILOWV)

  112. League of Women Voters of the United States

  113. Les femmes, la force du changement

  114. Líderes Ciudadanos en Pro de la Cultura de la Legalidad A.C.

  115. Local Community Development Association

  116. Lutheran World Federation

  117. Man Up Campaign US, Inc.

  118. Manusher Jonno Foundation

  119. Martha Justice Ministry/Sisters of Charity Federation

  120. Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers

  121. Medical Mission Sisters

  122. Medical Women’s International Association

  123. Mercy International Association - Global Action

  124. Mmawt Legacy Inititative

  125. Montana chapter of the National Organization for Women

  126. MUC

  127. Murna Foundation

  128. National Alliance of Women's Organizations

  129. National Council of Women of Canada

  130. National Council of Women of Great Britain

  131. National Federation of Business and Professional Women-NYC

  132. National Women's Council of Catalonia (Consell Nacional de les Dones de Catalunya)

  133. NAWO UK

  134. National Board of Catholic Women (NBCW)

  135. Neighbourhood Community Network

  136. Network of Rural Women Producers Trinidad and Tobego

  137. New Future Foundation inc

  138. Nonviolence International

  139. Nuba Mountains International Association

  140. NZ Federation of Business & Professional Women

  141. Ohaha Family Foundation

  142. OISAT/WASAT

  143. Okogun Odigie Safewomb International Foundation (OOSAIF)

  144. Omaniae Ghana

  145. Omaniae VZW

  146. PA Women's organization Alga

  147. Pakistan Rural Workers Social Welfare Organization

  148. Pan Pacific and South East Asia Women's Association (PPSEAWA)

  149. Passionist International

  150. Pathways To Peace (PTP)

  151. Peace and Life Enhancement Initiative International

  152. Plan International

  153. Portuguese Platform for Women's Rights

/ Plataforma Portuguesa para os Direitos das Mulheres

  1. Poverty Elimination and Community Education (PEACE) Foundation

  2. Public Services International

  3. Radanar Ayar Association

  4. Ramatu

  5. Red Dot Foundation

  6. Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary NGO

  7. REPEM

  8. Rose Academies

  9. Rural People's Sangam

  10. Sahkar Social Welfare Association

  11. Salesian Missions, Inc.

  12. Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled

  13. School Sisters of Notre Dame

  14. Self-Help Association for Rural people through Education and Entrepreneurship

  15. SERAC-Bangladesh

  16. Servas International

  17. SERVITAS Cameroon

  18. Settlement Service International (Australia)

  19. Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples

  20. Shirley Ann Sullivan Educational Foundation

  21. Silambam Asia

  22. Sisters of Charity Federation

  23. Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur

  24. Socialist International Women

  25. Sonke Gender Justice

  26. Soroptimist International

  27. Soroptimist International Great Britain and Ireland

  28. Soroptimist International of Europe

  29. Sovereign Military Order of the Temple of Jerusalem - OSMTH

  30. Stichting TIYE International

  31. Sugur Development Agency (SUDA)

  32. Temple of Understanding

  33. Teresian Association

  34. The Egyptian Center for Women's Rights

  35. The Young Christian education club of Zambia

  36. Trust for Youth Child Leadership

  37. UN Women USA

  38. UNANIMA International

  39. UNESCO Center for Peace

  40. Unión de Asociaciones Familiares (UNAF)

  41. Union of Soroptimist clubs in the Netherlands, Surinam & Curacao

  42. United Nations Association (UNA - USA), Westchester (NY) chapter

  43. United Nations Association of the USA

  44. United Nations Association of the USA, San Diego Chapter

  45. United Religions Initiative (URI)

  46. Verein zur Förderung der Völkerversständigung

  47. Vicar Hope Foundation

  48. Virginia Gildersleeve International Fund (DBA Women First International Fund)

  49. Virtual Activism

  50. Wave Foundation

  51. WOLMI

  52. Womankind Worldwide

  53. Women and Media Collective

  54. Women and Modern World Social Charitable Center

  55. Women Deliver

  56. Women Entrepreneurship Platform WEP)

  57. Women for Water Partnership

  58. Women Graduates-USA

  59. Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation, WOTCLEF

  60. WomenNC, NC Committee for CSW/CEDAW

  61. Women's World Summit Foundation

  62. Word of Life International, Inc.

  63. World Christian Life Community

  64. World Federation of Methodist and Uniting Church Women

  65. World Federation of Ukrainian Women's Organizations

  66. World Roma Fderation

  67. Young Christian education club of Zambia ycecz

  68. Youth Bridge Foundation

  69. Youth for transparency int'l

  70. Youth Foundation of Bangladesh

  71. Youth in Technology And Arts Network- YOTAN

  72. YWCA Australia

  73. YWCA of Nigeria

  74. Zonta International


NGOs associated with the UN DGC and other UN processes:


  1. Abundant Grace Female Foundation

  2. Africa Rise Foundation

  3. American Medical Women's Association

  4. Arab African American Women’s Leadership Council

  5. Asociación Ciudadana por los Derechos Humanos

  6. Asociación Latino-Americana de Abogados Laboralistas - ALAL

  7. Association des Femmes de l'Europe Méridionale (AFEM)

  8. Association of Nigerian Women Business Network

  9. Associazione Culturale dei Triangoli e Della Buona Volonta Mondiale

  10. Bangladesh Model Youth Parliament (Protiki Jubo Sangsad)

  11. Berine and Bokwe foundation

  12. BPW Canada

  13. CADIRE CAMEROON ASSOCIATION

  14. Chanmus inter religious peace foundation

  15. Denis Miki Foundation

  16. Feminist Task Force

  17. Focus on Women Magazine

  18. Franciscane Missionaries of Mary

  19. Fundamental Human Rights & Rural Development Association FHRRDA

  20. Global Socio-Economic and Financial Evolution Network- GSFEN

  21. Global Welfare Association (GLOWA)

  22. Greek League for Women’s Rights

  23. Grace Spring Rehabilitation Home (GSRH)

  24. IMAAP Projects

  25. Innovations for Development

  26. International Ass0ciation of Applied Psychology

  27. Inwelle Study and Resource Centre

  28. Iraqi Journalists Right Defense Association (IJRDA)



  1. Kadesh International

  2. Kushian Society For Developments And Human Rights

  3. Lady B Bless Humanitarian Foundation

  4. National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc

  5. Nederlandse Vrouwen Raad

  6. New Age International

  7. NGO CSW

  8. Nigerian Women Agro Allied Farmers Association

  9. North Star NGO

  10. ONG PADJENA

  11. OPAD

  12. OTOE

  13. Parlement des Jeunes Leader de la Société Civile Guinéenne

  14. Regional Center for International Development Corporation (RCIDC)

  15. Regional Centre for International Development Corporation (RCIDC)

  16. Réseau 2 Congo Genre et Développement

  17. Rural Uplift Centre

  18. Social Justice in Global Development

  19. Society for the Improvement of Rural People(SIRP)

  20. Solvang Chamber of Commerce

  21. Sure We Can

  22. Union des Amis Socio Culturels d'Action en Développement (UNASCAD)

  23. United voices 4 peace

  24. WAFAA International Foundation

  25. Women and Children Initiatives Inc

  26. Women Protection Organisation (WOPO)

  27. World Silambam Association

  28. 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)


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