ILO adopts new convention on violence and harassment at work
The International Labour Organization (ILO) has adopted a new convention and accompanying recommendations, aimed at combating violence and harassment in the workplace. The Violence and Harassment Convention, 2019 and the Violence and Harassment Recommendation, 2019 were adopted by the delegates of the International Labour Conference in June 2019, as part of its work as the United Nations agency dealing with issues on the world of work.
The Violence and Harassment Convention recognises, among other things, that:
- Violence and harassment in the world of work can constitute a human rights violation or abuse, and is unacceptable and incompatible with decent work.
- Violence and harassment in the world of work affects a person’s psychological, physical and sexual health, dignity, and family and social environment.
- Violence and harassment also affects the quality of public and private services, and may prevent persons, particularly women, from accessing, remaining and advancing in the labour market.
- An inclusive, integrated and gender-responsive approach, which tackles underlying causes and risk factors – including gender stereotypes, multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination, and unequal gender-based power relations – is essential to ending violence and harassment in the world of work.
The Violence and Harassment Convention calls on members of the ILO to respect, promote and realise the right of everyone to a world of work free from violence and harassment. This should include, for instance, measures to prohibit violence and harassment in law; ensuring access to remedies and support for victims; and adopting a comprehensive strategy to implement measures to prevent and combat violence and harassment.
The Violence and Harassment Convention is accessible here.
The Violence and Harassment Recommendation is accessible here.
Please note: The information contained in this note is for general guidance on matters of interest, and does not constitute legal advice. For any enquiries, please contact us at [email protected].
