http://www.world-psi.org/en/25-november-international-day-elimination-violence-against-women A humanitarian and refugee crisis has unfolded around
the world, with millions of women, men and children fleeing from conflict. Many
women and young girls are the victims of trafficking and end up in forced
labour. The security of women and children is often at risk in refugee camps,
with little or no provision for their specific needs or care. Public service workers are at the frontline receiving
asylum seekers and refugees and providing them emergency health, shelter and
social services.
PSI stands against all acts of violence
and deplores the violent attacks perpetrated recently in Paris, Beirut, Ankara
and elsewhere. It is during such atrocities that we witness how crucial public
services are, and the need to strengthen rather than weaken their provision.
Emergencies like this remind us of the importance of public governance and the
provision of quality public services to ensure safety and security for all.
“In all
countries, we need a strong commitment from governments to address the deeply
rooted causes of violence against women: inequality and discrimination. States must provide adequate measures to
prevent violence and protect threatened women, as well as prosecution,
counselling and education to change the mentality of people. Shelters for
abused women should be provided, and it is unacceptable that under austerity
policies those services are abolished in many countries. Governments also need
to provide safe harbours for refugees, and ensure that the needs of women and
girls are taken into account,” says Rosa Pavanelli, PSI General Secretary.
Just two months ago, the UN adopted its new 2030 Agenda, which is a global agenda
for sustainable development that should lead the world out of poverty and save
our planet. It offers a historical opportunity to lead us towards a better
future and address the structural causes that lead to violence and gender
discrimination.
However,
this will only be the case if the implementation of this agenda stays clear
from the wholesale promotion of public-private partnerships and privatization
of public services central to the well-being of women, men and children.
Privatization of public services often leads to worse working conditions for
public service providers, and reduced access for those in need of social,
health, education and other public services. Juneia Batista, PSI World Women’s Committee Chair,
says “Public services are also essential to ensure
that unpaid care work by women can be distributed fairly, as well as ensuring a
healthy family-work life balance.”
Addressing
violence at the workplace is an issue of health and safety at work. In this
respect, PSI welcomes the decision of the ILO Governing Body to table a discussion
on an international labour standard that addresses gender-based violence at
work in 2018. This is the result of proposals and lobbying led by the Workers'
group in coordination with the ITUC and Global Union Federations including PSI
since 2014. The road is still long, but a first milestone was marked to ensure
that violence at work and the consequences of domestic violence at work are
covered by international labour law. On 25 November, let’s celebrate this first
step towards a global framework that will guide social partners and governments
towards the elimination of gender-based violence at work.
PUBLIC SERVICES INTERNATIONAL
45 avenue Voltaire
01210 Ferney-Voltaire FRANCE
Tel: +33.(0)450 40 12 13
Public Services International is a global
trade union federation representing 20 million working women and men who
deliver vital public services in 150 countries. PSI champions human rights,
advocates for social justice and promotes universal access to quality public
services. PSI works with the United Nations system and in partnership with
labour, civil society and other organizations.
