The future of decent work for women in all their diversities is possible

Access to decent work is a basic human right. Having this right makes it possible to live a dignified life. However, the history of work has been marred by inequality and exploitation making it difficult for the vast majority to truly experience decent work.

For many women, the world of work is still rooted in gender discrimination giving room to injustices such as harassment and violence. Workplaces have become breeding grounds of toxicity making it impossible to achieve an equilibrium of balancing work and accessing social security while enjoying quality life.

According to the UN, women make up 40 per cent of the global workforce giving a glimpse of their role in healthy functioning societies. But what is an ideal gender equal world that accords inherent dignity in the workplace free from violence and harassment?  

C190’s vision of safe workspaces

The International Labour Organisation’s Violence and Harassment Convention (C190) is the first common global framework to prevent, remedy and eliminate violence and harassment in the world of work. ILO defines harassment and violence as a range of unacceptable behaviour, practices or threats that lead to physical, psychological, economic and sexual harm.

Adopted globally in 2019 and now in its 4th year, C190 has been a gamechanger in redefining how workers, employers and governments should advance a future of work based on dignity and trust. Currently, only 24 countries in the world have ratified C190 showing the slow progress in making dignified and decent work for all a reality.

While the future of decent and dignified work remains an aspiration for all, grassroots movements in Africa and around the world have taken centre stage in seeding the ground for C190. And this conviction is what brought together Womankind and partners under the AWESOME programme on 30 June 2023 to launch a new campaign: #SafeatWork, #SafeinSociety. 

#SafeatWork, #SafeinSociety officially launched

The campaign to be implemented in Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia will spearhead critical work focused on mobilizing social movements particularly women’s rights organisations, disabled women’s rights organisations and young women-led organisations to influence their governments to not only ratify but implement C190.

#SafeatWork, #SafeinSociety uniquely explores women’s different experiences in the world of work with the following objectives:

• To work with partners to increase awareness and build collective actions in Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia on the ratification and implementation of C190;
• To contribute to understanding on the link between women’s participation and leadership and sexual and gender based violence as linked to C190;
• To contribute to increased use of C190 to advocate for the rights of women with disabilities young women, Women Human Rights Defenders and women working in rural areas in the 3 focus countries.

Speaking during the launch, Nanziri May, Programme Officer, National Union of Women with Disabilities in Uganda (NUWODU) shed light on the need to embrace collective action and have a shared vision in jointly executing the campaign.

‘’We all have unique experiences and this will diversify the approach that we will use to ensure that the campaign is successful and truly meets the vision set out in the tailored campaign plans. I look forward to seeing my country Uganda, ratify and implement ILO 190’’

Florence Machio, the Regional Communications Advisor at the United Nations Foundation and currently serving her secondment as Women’s Rights Advisor in the Executive Office of the President, highlighted Kenya’s journey in ratifying and implementing C190 particularly in the context of domestic work where harassment and violence is prevalent. 

‘’Kenya will be ratifying both the Domestic Workers Convention (C189) and C190 jointly and it’s important for civil society to engage in this process so that we take bold steps together in creating decent and dignified work for all’’ 

Kenya case study

#SafeatWork, #SafeinSociety is expected to trigger collective action and a movement that will amplify the voices of women changemakers calling for the domestication, ratification and implementation of C190 in Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia.

Download the toolkit and add a voice to our call to action

The campaign has also adopted an advocacy toolkit that will guide and support users through various steps and best practices that can be taken to advance the ratification of C190. Rich examples of case studies with illustrations of key messages have been modelled to inspire joint action in creating a better world of work for women.

A future where people of all genders can authentically bring their full selves to work without discrimination, violence and harassment is possible!

You can join our call to action on social media by using the key messaging: 

• #SafeatWork, #SafeinSociety
• #RatifyC190