Gender Forum Resources

RESOURCE KIT ON GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE IN GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAINS

The joint publication by Fair Wear and the Training Centre of the International Labour Organization (ITCILO) was written by Jo Morris and Jane Pillinger together with gender and training experts from the International Training Centre of the ILO. It is designed to help global brands, employers, trade unions and other stakeholders to tackle gender-based violence and discrimination in their supply chains. It provides valuable background and expert resources, as well as a wealth of case studies and practical strategies to overcome violence against women workers. The Resource Kit can be used for both individual and group learning on issues related to gender-based violence in global supply chains. Access this resource

STANDING FIRM AGAINST FACTORY FLOOR HARASSMENT

In 2011, FWF together with SAVE, Cividep, AMRF Society and Awaj Foundation began a project that would help implement new laws in Bangladesh and India which prevent and remedy violence against women in factories. The project has seen much success: there have been trainings in many factories;  several anti-harassment committees and telephone helplines have been established; workers are speaking up about problems; and factories and clothing brands are working together to remedy those problems. The project is also providing rare insight and solid documentation of a problem which is rarely spoken about. Access this resource

THE FIGHT AGAINST SEXUAL VIOLENCE AT WORK

Mondiaal FNV, together with the India Committee of the Netherlands, organised a meeting of international experts to address violence against women in the garment sector. Although there is a substantial amount of research and theory development being conducted in this area, there is too little going on at company level. The experts, mostly women, came from Bangladesh, India, Argentina, Tanzania, Myanmar, Indonesia and the Netherlands to elucidate their views on violence against women and to exchange experiences on strategies to support and organise. This report brings together several of their stories, as well as presents the information and insights that came out of the meeting.

FWF ARTWORK FOCUS GROUP PROJECT REPORT

Sexual harassment and violence against women are widespread problems in Bangladeshi and Indian garment factories. FWF, with the support from the UN Trust Fund, initiated the Preventing Workplace Violence project. This project set up anti-harassment committees and telephone helplines as well as gave trainings for workers and managers on the importance and benefits of treating women workers better.  To gain a better understanding of women workers’ job satisfaction, FWF devised an innovative methodology, which involves artwork and focus group discussions to encourage workers to talk. The drawings give a description of their daily lives, their family background, and their working conditions. Access this resource

WOMEN’S SAFETY AT WORK

The Women’s Safety at Work portal is an online platform. FWF uses data from projects in countries like Bangladesh and India to identify key risks that affect women garment workers and that can lead to workplace violence. The platform also covers measures that can help improve women’s working conditions, like the training of top management or the creation of anti-harassment committees. Besides learnings from the project, the portal also has guest blogs from gender experts, unions, and other NGOs. Access this resource

Strategic Partnership

FWF joined a Strategic Partnership with the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and FNV Mondiaal and CNV Internationaal, which aims to achieve decent working conditions for all garment workers by redesigning the industry as a whole. The Partnership creates opportunities for joint action using the partners’ knowledge and expertise in lobby and advocacy, and their combined resources. Partnership will focus on three specific, critical, and interrelated themes: payment of living wages; social dialogue as standard industry behaviour; and elimination of gender-based violence and discrimination at work. Access this resource

I know I cannot quit: sexual harassment in the Cambodian garment industry

CARE’s regional initiative, EMERGE, conducted an industry-wide study to examine the prevalence and productivity costs of sexual harassment of workers to the Cambodian garment industry. The researchers examined indirect costs of lower productivity, revenue loss, and missed days of work based on both worker and factory perspectives. The survey found that sexual harassment remains a serious issue for women workers in the Cambodian garment industry and also has considerable costs to the factories themselves. Access this resource

Violence against women at the workplace

This report by CNV aims at gaining a better insight into the extent to which working women are facing violence at work in Honduras, Benin, Moldova and Indonesia. The research focused on the extent and the particular characteristics of violence against women at the workplace and on the perpetrators of violence, notably bosses, co-workers or clients/ patients/ customers/ pupils and similar. This report also gives a country-specific overview of women workers, including the legal framework concerning violence at work and the institutional responses to it. Access this resource

Safe cities for women and girls: can dreams come true?

In 2014, ActionAid Vietnam and CGFED conducted a survey of over 2000 people in Vietnam about their attitudes about sexual harassment in public spaces.  Despite significant improvements in both regional and international conventions, Vietnamese women remain vulnerable to violence, discrimination and a lack of economic opportunities, particularly sexual discrimination and violence in public places and at work. The report highlights urgent need to improve current policies to ensure safety for women and girls in urban public places, and makes specific policy recommendations to protect and guarantee their basic rights. Access this resource