According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), more than one in five employed people worldwide have experienced workplace violence and harassment—women being disproportionately affected by sexual harassment.
This urgent issue took centre stage at the Economist Businesswomen Club Breakfast held on 8 August at the Hilton Hotel, under the theme “Reclaim your Safety, Power and Presence at Work.” The event gathered experts and women from diverse sectors to explore strategies for building safer, more equitable workplaces.
The distinguished speaker panel included Hopolang Phororo, UN Resident Coordinator; Iani de Kock, Clinical Psychologist; and Ida Chimedza, ILO Specialist for Gender Equality, Non-Discrimination, and Inclusion.
A Call for Partnerships and Systemic Change
Phororo highlighted the Pact of the Future, adopted last year, as a blueprint for addressing global crises—from inequality to climate change—through solidarity and human rights. With gender equality at its heart, the Pact underlines that violence against women and girls remains one of the greatest barriers to a just and sustainable future.
“Gender violence, including harassment in the world of work, is not just a women’s issue; it’s a human issue, a leadership issue, and a business issue,” Phororo stated. She also noted that many women remain silent when harassed at work, not out of choice, but as a survival mechanism in systems that fail to protect them.
The Human and Economic Costs
Workplace harassment not only undermines personal dignity and wellbeing, but also costs businesses billions in lost productivity, high staff turnover, and reputational damage. As Phororo reminded: “We cannot measure the dreams deferred, the talents silenced, or the businesses never started.”
Through the 2025–2029 UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, the UN and Namibia are working together to strengthen workplace policies, ensure safe reporting systems, and integrate mental health and psychosocial support into workplaces.
Understanding and Applying ILO Convention 190
Chimedza introduced the ILO Convention 190 (C190), the first international treaty addressing violence and harassment in the world of work. C190 applies to all workers—including job seekers and interns—and recognises both quid pro quo harassment (where benefits are tied to submission to sexual advances) and hostile work environments (where intimidation or humiliation occurs).
A key feature of the Convention is that harassment must be defined from the recipient’s perspective, ensuring that lived experiences are prioritised. Chimedza emphasised the importance of participatory policies, social dialogue, and collective bargaining to create environments of zero tolerance—where “silence is not mistaken for safety.”
Moving Forward
As the speakers reinforced, ending workplace harassment is not only about protecting women—it is about safeguarding human dignity, leadership accountability, and business sustainability. The call to action is clear: we must build workplaces where no woman has to sacrifice her dignity, peace, or mental health for her career.
Don’t let the conversation end here—download the UN Pact for the Future and be part of shaping the workplaces of tomorrow.Reference Document Pact of the Future and Gender Equality
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