Ei-iE

Ghana National Network Holds Seminar to Increase Awareness About New ILO Convention on Violence and Harassment At Work

In the framework of the activities of African Women in Education Network (AWEN), the Ghana National Women’s Network embarked on a campaign which aims to encourage the Government of Ghana to ratify the new ILO Convention 190 on Violence and Harassment in the World of Work, adopted on 21st  June 2019, by the 108th Labour Conference. The Convention recognizes that violence and harassment in the world of work“can constitute a human rights violation or abuse, is a threat to equal opportunities, is unacceptable and incompatible with decent work.”

One of the key activities of the campaign that took place from the 16th to the 17th October 2020 at the GNAT Headquarters in Accra was the training workshop on violence and sexual harassment in the world of work. The workshop brought together thirty national and regional gender coordinators from three affiliates: the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), and the Teachers and Educational Workers’ Union (TEWU).

The workshop offered an opportunity for the participants to acquire enhanced knowledge on the meaning of violence and sexual harassment, and an increased awareness of the phenomenon in the unions and  education settings. Presenters at the workshop came from the Ghana Trade Union Congress (GTUC), the Ghana Chapter of the International Women Lawyers Association, Education International Africa Regional Office, and the Unions.

Presentations were made on the Content of the ILO C190 and the Recommendation 206 with the focus on the meaning, forms and causes of violence and sexual harassment, the enforcement of rules and support systems, as well as the ratification process and the role that the unions and the women’s Network can play to achieve the Ratification of the Convention. The facilitator from the Women Lawyers Association explained that the ratification process is a long one therefore unions should make use of existing provisions in the Ghana 1992 Constitution and the Ghana Labour Law passed in 2003 while advocating ratification of the Convention.

To that end, the meeting agreed to target the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection; Ministry of Education, Ministry of Labor, and Parliament and the Head of State‘s Office.

Welcoming the initiative taken by AWEN and the Ghana National Women’s Network, EI Africa Chief Regional Coordinator, Dennis Sinyolo, urged all African governments to ratify ILO Convention 190 and to ensure its full implementation.