EU: Member States are encouraged to ratify the Violence and Harassment Convention, 2019

On 2nd April 2024, the „Council Decision (EU) 2024/1018 of 25 March 2024 inviting Member States to ratify the Violence and Harassment Convention, 2019 (No 190) of the International Labour Organization“ was published in the Official Journal of the European Union (EU). The Council Decision is addressed to the Member States, which are enocuraged to adopt the International Labour Conference adopted Convention No 190 of the International Labour Organization (ILO) concerning the elimination of violence and harassment in the world of work, 2019 (the Violence and Harassment Convention, 2019).

Member States should ratify articles of the Violence and Harassment Convention, 2019 specifically focusing on improving the working environment to protect workers’ health and safety as well as promoting equality between men and woman at the workplace.

The Violence and Harassment Convention, 2019 is the first international agreement providing a comprehensive framework to prevent, remedy and eliminate violence and harassment at the workplace, including gender-based incidents and entered into force on 25 June 2021.

„Violence and harassment at the workplace“ encompasses various unacceptable behaviours, threats or practices that my lead to physical, psychological, sexual or economic harm, including gender-based violence and harassment. Moreover, „gender-based violence and harassment“ referes to incidents directed at individuals because of their sex or gender, or those disproportionately affecting individuals of a specific sex or gender, including sexual harassment.
Greece, Ireland, Italy and Spain have already ratified the Violence and Harassment Convention, 2019 while in Belgium, France, Germany and Portugal it will enter into force within the next months.