By Joseph Tumbey, josephtumbey@gmail.com (+231) 777941209
IPNEWS – Monrovia: ActionAid Liberia has petitioned the Legislature to ratify the Geneva Convention #190 with its recommendation #206 to end gender-based violence and harassment at places of work across the country.
Reading their petition statement Wednesday, December 15, at their head office in Monrovia, they said gender-based violence and harassment have infiltrated all aspects of lives and are deeply entrenched today affecting millions of workers particularly women in schools, homes, communities, and workplaces.
According to them, gender-based violence and harassment (GBVH) is a human rights issue that negatively affects individuals, workplaces and society.
They noted that the Convention #190 is a landmark global binding treaty adopted by the International Labor Organization (ILO) in June 2019 aimed at eliminating GBVH in the world of work.
“Governments, employers and employees adopted the Convention. The Liberia government and the Liberia Labor Congress (LLC) were active participants in the negotiations. Now, we want to see it become law in Liberia,” they pleaded.
ActionAid Liberia pointed out that violence and harassment in workplaces can constitute a human rights violation or abuse. They stressed that violence and harassment have are threats to equal opportunities which is unacceptable and incompatible with the promotion of decent work bill.
They stated that as Chapter III, Article 17 of the Liberian Constitution guarantees the fundamental rights of all persons at all times, and Chapter II Article 8 guarantees the Republic to direct its policy towards ensuring for all citizens without discrimination, the violence and harassment in the world of work must end immediately.
They added that the ratification of the Convention is an opportunity to update the Liberian Legislature to address the issue and provide victims adequate access to gender-responsive mechanisms.
