The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) and the Solidarity Centre AFL-CIO has expressed commitment to partner with other Local Non Governmental Organisations and Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) groups to form a national coalition to fight Gender Based Violence and Harassment (GBVH) in the world of work.The agreement was reached at a two-day virtual stakeholders meeting where it was observed that PWDs have not been adequately captured in the campaign against GBVH.
The stakeholders agreed that the nationl coalition will work to ensure that governments, employers, workers organizations and labor market institutions recognize, respond to and address impacts of gender-based violence.
Speaking during the meeting, TUC woman Commission Chairperson, Comrade Shaibu Hafsat said there is an urgent need to deal with the clear lack of coordination amongst key stakeholders who work around GBVH.
According to her, a strong coordination from all stakeholders will go a long way in pushing for the review of inadequate legal frameworks, poor implementation and enforcement of laws and workplace policies to promote safe work places.
Hafsat said the country’s world of work is characterized by pervasive gender-based violence and harassment, which workers and affiliates of the TUC and its sister center the Nigeria Labour Congress, continue to grapple with.
She said the TUC women Commission see GBVH as a major human rights and workplace health and safety issue because all workers, but primarily women workers, are at risk of experiencing abuse, harassment and violence based on their gender.
She said, “I strongly believe that strong coordination from us all will go a long way in pushing for the review of inadequate legal frameworks, poor implementation and enforcement of laws and workplace policies, and entrenched gender discriminatory norms continue that hamper union and civil society efforts to prevent and address the problem.
“It is with this in mind that we as TUCWC approached Solidarity Center for collaboration to build a strong network of stakeholders that can take on this work and particularly work to ensure that ILO C190 is ratified in Nigeria.”
She commended the Solidarity Centre AFL-CIO and the NLC for the research work on GBVH, saying it will be used as a tool to enhance the call for action from government and employers.
Hafsat said the country’s world of work is characterized by pervasive gender-based violence and harassment, which workers and affiliates of the TUC and its sister center the Nigeria Labour Congress, continue to grapple with.
