Canada’s unions call on newly elected government to ratify global convention on violence and harassment

November 25^th marks the first of 16 global days of action to eliminate gender-based violence. Canada’s unions are marking these days by calling on the newly elected government to ratify international labour Convention C-190, the first-ever global treaty on violence and harassment in the world of work.

Convention C-190 was adopted at the Centenary Conference of the International Labour Organization (ILO) earlier this year. The ILO is the UN system’s only tripartite agency, bringing together governments, employers and workers to set labour standards, develop policies and create programs promoting decent work for all.

The ILO Convention is legally binding once it is ratified by a country. 

Convention C-190 and its supplementing Recommendation set out clear policies grounded in social dialogue and requiring an integrated, gender-responsive approach to the prevention and elimination of violence and harassment in the world of work.

“Over half of women in Canada will experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime,” said CLC’s Secretary-Treasurer Marie Clarke Walker. “We have made progress in recent years, and ratifying this convention will send a clear message that all workers have the right to a world of work free from violence and harassment.”

Join us in marking the beginning of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence by asking our Prime Minister to begin the process of ratifying Convention C-190 before the end of 2020.

Write to him now.

Since 1981, women’s rights advocates have marked November 25^th as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. You can learn more about the history of this work here.