ADDIS ABABA– The Head of EU Delegation to Ethiopia, Ambassador Johan Borgstam congratulated the Ethiopian government on its achievements to ensure gender equality and protect women from any form of violence and assaults.
In a press release the EU Delegation sent to The Ethiopian Herald in connection with the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, the Ambassador stated that Ethiopia’s robust legislation is a key to successfully fight gender-based violence. “Equal access to justice for both women and men is crucial in this regard.”
He indicated that a key goal of this year’s Global 16 Days Campaign is to influence a wave of ratifications for the newly adopted International Labor Organization Convention 190 that establishes global standards to end gender-based violence and harassment in the world of work. The convention includes clear guidance for governments, employers, and trade unions to identify and eliminate discriminatory behaviors.
“Decent work is fundamental to EU’s external actions that look at job creation and it is recognizing that safety from harassment and protection of rights form an integral part of the quality of job,” Borgstam said, adding that the Union is also working towards safeguarding rights in its projects and programs that target workers in and outside industrial parks in Ethiopia.
The EU hopes to see the new Labor Proclamation implemented and reiterates its respect for women workers who have diligently worked to advance this agenda, the Ambassador remarked.
Gender based violence is one of the most common human rights violations. As a result of unequal power relations women are adversely affected. Recent campaigns like the #MeToo movement have given global attention to the problem.
According to UN report, 28 percent of Ethiopian women have experienced lifetime physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence. A staggering 65 percent have undergone some form of Female Genital Mutilation. The world of work is no safe haven either.
A 2016 research by the Confederation of Ethiopian Trade Unions on the situation of women in selected flower growers, textile and leather processing companies has highlighted discrimination, harassment, gender pay gaps and poor working conditions.
As an important step, the Ethiopian Parliament approved a draft Labor Proclamation on 5 July 2019 to replace the Labor Proclamation No. 377/2003 that has been in existence for 16 years. The revised law has introduced a rule to regulate workplace sexual harassment and sexual violence.
The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an annual international campaign that kicks off on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until 10 December, Human Rights Day.
The campaign is spearheaded by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership and carried forward by numerous advocates worldwide that are engaging, mobilizing and scaling up efforts and the EU supports the 2019 campaign to end gender-based violence in the world of work, it was learnt.
The Ethiopian Herald November 26/2019
BY BILAL DERSO
