A range of;
✖ Unacceptable behaviors
✖ Unacceptable practices
✖ Threats

Whether a single occurrence or repeated, that aim at, result in, or are likely to result in;
✖ Physical harm:
Physical injury to an employee which is usually caused on purpose. Any act which causes physical harm as a result of unlawful physical force. Physical violence can take the form of, among others, serious and minor assault, deprivation of liberty and manslaughter.

✖Psychological harm:
Any work-related stress and associated emotional condition which causes psychological harm to an individual. Psychological violence can take the form of, for example, coercion, defamation, verbal insult or harassment, Psychological abuse and intimidation

✖ Sexual Harassment
Any sexual act performed on an individual without their consent. Sexual violence can take the form of rape or sexual assault.

✖ Economic harm:
Any act or behavior which causes economic harm to an individual. Economic violence can take the form of, property damage, restricting access to financial resources, education or the Labour market, or not complying with economic responsibilities, such as alimony. Forms include Economic and financial abuse

✖ Gender-based violence and harassment:
Violence and harassment directed at persons because of their sex or gender or affecting persons of a particular sex or gender disproportionately and includes sexual harassment. Forms include forced prostitution,human trafficking, sexual violence, including rape and sexual assault, sexual harassment, including quid pro quo
✖ Verbal abuse: the use of words to cause harm to the person being spoken to
✖ Bullying: intentional act that causes harm to others
✖ Stalking: the act or crime of willfully and repeatedly following or harassing another person in circumstances that would cause a reasonable person to fear injury or death especially because of express or implied threats

According to a UNFPA study (2015) 90% of all women in Sri Lanka have been subjected to sexual harassment in public transport in comparison to 1 in 3 women globally. Many attempts have been made to bring about awareness on this subject and curb this issue. Has the situation changed?

The International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention on Eliminating Violence and Harassment in the World of Work (in short ILO C190) is an opportunity to bring about actual change in the law of the land by holding your employer, government and union responsible to take the right action against any harassment you face in the world of work – which includes your commute to and from work as well as the workplace itself.

• First international standard with the goal of ending violence and harassment in the world of work including GBVH
• Recognizes that everyone has the right to a world free from violence and harassment and to be treated with dignity and respect on the job
• Will fill existing gaps in national legislation
• Focuses on confronting the root causes of violence and harassment and transforming workplace cultures

✔Employees as defined by national law and practice,
✔Persons working irrespective of their contractual status,
✔Persons in training, including interns and apprentices,
✔Workers whose employment has been terminated,
✔Volunteers,
✔Jobseekers and job applicants,
✔Individuals exercising the authority, duties or responsibilities of an employer.

All sectors,
✔Private
✔Public
✔Formal economy
✔Informal economy
✔Urban areas
✔ Rural areas.

✔ In the workplace, including public and private spaces where they are a place of work;
✔ In places where the worker is paid, takes a rest break or a meal, or uses sanitary, washing and changing facilities;
✔ During work-related trips, travel, training, events or social activities;
✔ Through work-related communications, including those enabled by information and communication technologies;
✔ In employer-provided accommodation; and
✔ When commuting to and from work.

Step 1: Ratification of the convention by the Sri Lanka Parliament

Step 2: Introducing relevant national legislation to implement ILO C190

Step 3: Look into the policies and mechanism at your workplace that address violence and harassment        

Step 4: Share this information among your co-workers about ILO C190