The first convention on violence and harassment in the labor market has entered into force

The International Labor Organization has launched a campaign to ratify the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women in the Labor Market. The first international agreement on these issues enters into force on June 25, 2021, exactly two years after the adoption of the document at the International Labor Conference, the organization said in a statement.

Today the convention has already been ratified by six countries. These are Argentina, Somalia, Uruguay, Fiji, Ecuador, Namibia. It will become legally binding within one year after ratification.

Among the recommendations of the Convention is the recognition of the right of every person in the field of work, free from violence and harassment, which also lays a common ground for action in this direction.

The Convention provides the first internationally accepted definition of violence in the workplace, including gender-based violence and harassment.

Violence and harassment in the workplace are manifested in various ways, causing physical, psychological, sexual and economic harm.

Since the adoption of the Convention, these problems have become more urgent due to the coronavirus. During the outbreak of the disease, many countries have reported various manifestations of violence in the workplace, especially against members of vulnerable groups of women.

In connection with the entry into force of the Convention, the ILO intends to launch a global campaign for its ratification and implementation, which aims to explain in a clear and accessible way the essence of the Convention, the issues it addresses, as well as the proposed ways of eradicating violence and persecution.

“The good future of the labor market is when there is no violence, no encroachment. “I strongly urge the nations of the world to ratify this Convention, as well as to work with employers, employees and their organizations to build an area of work where dignity, safety and health are common property,” said ILO Executive Director Guy Ryder.

The launch of the campaign has already been announced during the week of ratification of Convention № 190, which took place on June 21-25. The aim of the action week is to call on all countries of the world to reaffirm their commitment to the ratification and implementation of the Convention.

The first event, which took place on June 21, was attended by the ILO Director-General, the Labor Ministers of Argentina and Madagascar, representatives of the International Organization of Employers, as well as the International Confederation of Trade Unions, the European Commission and the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

At the end of the week of action, the ILO leadership will issue a document calling for the implementation of the Convention and its recommendations, which are aimed at eradicating labor violence and harassment, as well as the adoption of national legislation, regulations and policy steps.

Full text in Armenian