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EFBWW News

International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

25/11/2019

On the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, among the many national and international initiatives, the European Trade Union Confederation, sent a letter to the designated President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen and to the Commissioner for Equality, Helena Dalli, with proposals to increase EU intervention on violence against women.

The letter, signed by women trade union leaders from 26 European countries and 9 European trade union federations, including the EFBWW, represents a precise action of the ETUC and reiterates the need to take measures to prevent violence in the workplace, in line with the ILO 190 Convention on the elimination of violence and harassment on the world labor front. Another central issue of trade union demands is the full implementation of the Istanbul Convention.

One of the worst forms of discrimination is violence against women and this continues at an alarming rate throughout the European region, facilitated by insufficient legislation in many countries and impunity for authors.

If the last few years have shown us something, it is that equal rights for women, LGBTI rights and refugee rights have become the main battleground for right-wing populists across Europe.

We recall that the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is a recurrent action established by the General Assembly of the United Nations, through resolution number 54/134 of 17 December 1999, starting from the assumption that violence against women is a violation of human rights.

This violation is a consequence of the discrimination against women, from a legal and practical point of view, and of the persistent inequalities between men and women.

This date was not chosen at random, on 25 November 1960, in fact, the three Mirabal sisters, political activists of the Dominican Republic, were killed. This is an important day, to always remind everyone that respect is at the basis of every relationship and that we cannot continue to see the number of women suffering violence increase.

It is clear that violence against women, both domestic and in the workplace, must remain a very important and priority topic for all, we will have to ask politicians and institutions for precise answers, just as we will have to commit ourselves so that, starting from the workplaces in our sectors, attention always remains high, looking in our trade union practices, first of all bargaining, responses and barriers to this social scourge.

We urge all comrades to use the content of the Letter not only on this day, but in every opportunity for our union activities.

Download the letter [EN]