Handbook: Addressing violence and harassment against women in the world of work

Everyone has the right to live and work free from violence and harassment. In spite of this, violence and harassment against women, including in the world of work, is pervasive. It is present in all jobs, occupations, and sectors of the economy in all countries across the world. Some women are disproportionately affected by violence and harassment because of their employment status, the type of work they carry out, or because of the conditions in the sector that they work in.

At the same time, work is a critical entry point for addressing these issues, as highlighted by the United Nations Framework to Underpin Action to Prevent Violence against Women. There are many emerging good practices coming from international organizations, governments, employers, trade unions, and nongovernmental organizations.

This handbook aims to bring together the literature, policies and practices, providing promising examples from countries across the globe. The handbook spans the public and private, as well as formal and informal sectors, exploring a broad spectrum of issues and contexts. It articulates relevant international and regional frameworks, provides guidance on the role of state and non-state actors and social dialogue, and includes practical information on how to prevent and respond to violence and harassment in workplaces.

The publication also coincides with the unprecedented mobilization of millions of women behind #MeToo and other solidarity movements and with the International Labour Organization’s standard-setting process, which is working towards a new international standard or standards on ending violence and harassment in the world of work.