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The Director General of the International Labour Organisation, Gilbert Houngbo, has issued a message advocating for the elimination of gender-based violence.

His message came a day ahead of this year’s 16 Days of Activism Global Campaign to call for the elimination of gender-based violence, which runs annually from 25 November (International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women) to 10 December (International Human Rights Day). The theme for the 2023 campaign is "UNITE! Invest to prevent violence against women and girls."

“Violence and harassment against women and girls know no borders, not even the workplace,” said the DG of the United Nations agency.

One in five persons in employment faces violence and harassment during their working life. And three out of five, mostly women, endure it repeatedly. The DG said this can be prevented, calling for global solidarity action.

This means investing in preventing violence and harassment against women and girls, inside and outside the workplace, and investing in rooting out discrimination, Houngbo said.

The ILO Convention No. 190 grants everyone the right to a violence-free work environment. Houngbo called on ILO member states to ratify the convention.