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Ending violence against women

Violence against women exists in all countries and in all societies. It happens in private and public places, and in physical as well as virtual online spaces. Violence is often driven by a deep-seated belief that a woman is not equal to a man. PSI and our affiliates can work together and with civil society organisations to break the silence and mobilise against discrimination and violence in our workplaces and societies.

Sign & share the Bogota Declaration on Tax Justice for Women's Rights!

07 December 2017

The Bogota Declaration on Tax Justice for Women’s Rights is being launched around the world on 7 December 2017 through online platforms and at tax justice events in Argentina and Chile. This launch coincides with the annual 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, leading into UN Human Rights Day on 10 December. Your organisation is invited to join the Global Alliance for Tax Justice, Public Services International, Tax Justice Network, the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung and many other leading groups in supporting this declaration.

We won't wait! - End domestic violence

28 November 2017

The Australian Union movement is campaigning to enshrine 10 days paid Family and Domestic Violence Leave in the National Employment Standards, making it available to every worker who needs it.

International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

23 November 2017

“Stopping violence against women is everyone’s responsibility and men must play their part” stated Dave Prentis, PSI President, as his initial words at the PSI Congress 2017’s Pledge to end Violence against Women. Lead by Greg McLean from Australia, public services male trade unionists pledged in Geneva to be key actors in this struggle, in of one of the most emblematic acts of political engagement of public services unions.

Pledge to #EndVaw

03 November 2017

On Friday 3rd November, Congress male participants made a pledge to end Violence against Women.

Corporate power threatens women's human rights

12 July 2017

New York, 12 July 2017:  Corporate power threatens  women´s human rights by promoting a race to the bottom in labour standards and avoiding taxes in the countries where  profits are obtained, concludes the report Spotlight on Sustainable Development 2017, in its analysis of the fifth Sustainable Development Goal which promises to achieve gender equality by 2030 and empower all women and girls.

Interactive webinar on “Ending gender-based violence in the world of work”

18 May 2017
Stop gender-based violence at work!

Join us for an interactive webinar on “Ending gender-based violence in the world of work” taking place on 29 May from 14h-15h30 Brussels (GMT+1) – check your time here. Interpretation will be available in English, French, Spanish, Arabic, and Russian. Register to join by following the instructions.

Killings and rape of young women and children in South Africa

18 May 2017

The PSI South African Young Workers Committee has released a statement about the recent disturbing developments of disappearances, kidnappings, killings and general aggression against young women in South Africa. We must all work together to break the silence and mobilise against gender-based violence and the violation of women’s rights in our workplaces and societies.

The Human Right to Peace: Women, Labour and Public Services in Conflict Zones

14 March 2017

This parallel event jointly organised by PSI-ITUC-EI-WUNR-SSIHRL on “The Human Right to Peace: Women, Labour and Public Services in Conflict Zones”, will take place on 14 March, 8:30 am, on the 10th floor of the Church Center for the United Nations.

Women around the world stand up for social justice. Enough is enough.

08 March 2017

On 8th March this year, we pledge our solidarity with the millions of women in grassroots movements and trade unions around the world in saying ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! No to racism, xenophobia, homophobia. We demand autonomy and control over our own bodies. Pay equity now! Rights without borders. No more gender-based violence in the workplace and quality public services for all! #IWD2017

In Pakistan, Community Health Workers Get Their Issues Across

15 February 2017
Picture caption: Shama Gulani, General Secretary of ASLHWA addresses the public meeting in Karachi

On 30 January, the All Sindh Lady Health Workers and Employees Association, PSI and Workers Education and Research Organisation organised a public meeting in Karachi on "Socio Economic Impacts of Delayed Wages on LHWs and their families" and "Sexual Harassment of Lady Health Workers on the Job and Field" to share the findings of two studies to be published very soon.

Women Power Unions: Global Trade Union UNCSW Preparatory meeting (New York)

06 December 2016

Trade union representatives to attend Global Union/FES meeting in New York to develop strategy for upcoming UN Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW61), the principal global intergovernmental body dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women.

Photos from India: International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

29 November 2016
VAW activity in India

Public Services International's affiliate, the All India Census Employees Association (AICEA), organised an activity on 25 November on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

Saving Lives Needs Safety!

27 November 2016

25 November - International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

Trade unions are struggling to end violence at the workplace and in society. We stand for peaceful solutions, a culture of dialogue based on the human right to health, peace and social protection. In all countries, we need a strong commitment from governments to address the deeply rooted causes of violence against women: inequality and discrimination.

ILO: towards a standard against violence and harassment in the world of work

24 November 2016

On 7 November, the ILO Governing Body unanimously endorsed the work and conclusions by a group of experts on the issue of violence in the world of work, and requested the Office to prepare the first standard-setting discussion by the International Labour Conference in June 2018.

Available in Spanish and English PSI Brazil's guide on violence against women in the workplace

01 June 2016

The publication presents the problem and calls unions to combat and prevent violence. It should be used as an information, capacity building, and mobilization tool for women and men in the fight against sexist violence in the workplace.

Communiqué: Public Services International Steering Committee SC-17

25 November 2013
PSI Steering Committee and staff, November 2013

Angered by the continuing attacks on public services and the workers who provide these services, distressed by the rising inequality across the world and the failure of the current economic system to provide jobs, particularly for young people, the Steering Committee reiterated its commitments to the 2013-2017 Programme of Action “Social Justice through Quality Public Services” and endorsed priority actions for 2014.

Work-related violence and its integration into existing surveys

20 November 2013

Statistical measurement of violence at the workplace has been neglected, states a new ILO report presented at the 19th International Conference of Labour Statisticians, held in Geneva, 2-11 October 2013.

Posters: International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

18 November 2013
PSI violence against women poster

PSI calls on all its affiliate members, men and women, to make a pledge to end violence against women and girls, at each of their workplaces around the globe. Use these posters available in eight languages

Posters - International Women's Day 2013

28 February 2013
PSI poster for International Women's Day with slogan End Violence Against Women

Download PSI's International Women's Day 2013 posters (PDF).

No compromise on women’s rights Zero tolerance for violence against women and girls

19 February 2013

Together with other civil society partners, trade unions develop, implement and promote strategies aimed at eliminating violence against women and girls. This joint global union statement will be presented to the UNCSW57. For more information: http://unioncsw.world-psi.org

Resolution 31: Against feminicide in Mexico, Central America and the Dominican Republic

30 November 2012

The 29th World Congress of Public Services International (PSI),

Rise now! End violence against women

19 November 2012
PSI Congress delegates sign to end violence against women

This background document was produced for the Women's Caucus held prior to PSI’s World Congress. The World Congress is an important forum where we can raise our voices and join together in solidarity to pledge our combined efforts to stop violence against women. Our public sector unions must work towards creating a violence-free world for the women of today and for generations to come.

Impact of the economic crisis and austerity measures on women

04 July 2012

Women are losing jobs in both the private and public sectors, which has an immediate effect on household income but a much longer term effect on the role of women in the labour force.

It’s time to end violence against women

30 October 2008
End Violence against women (cover)

“Violence against women means any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life”. United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women, Article 1

Framework guidelines for addressing workplace violence in the health sector

22 November 2005

Workplace violence - physical (homicide, attacks, beating) or psychological (mobbing, bullying, harassment) - affects all categories of workers in just about all sectors. However, the health sector is at major risk due to fundamental characteristics of the services delivered and the present work environment. Under the strain of reforms, social instability, increasing pressures from long working hours and shift work, demoralisation of workers, workplace violence is rapidly spreading in the health sector.