As part of the United Nations’ 16 Days Campaign to End Violence Against Women in the Pacific, the International Labour Organization (ILO) organized a training on elimination of sexual harassment in the workplace on 28 and 29 November in Port Moresby. Sexual harassment is a major barrier for women’s participation in the world of work, and has many negative effects for workplaces, society, the women workers and their families.

“Sexual harassment is a serious discrimination against women workers in Papua New Guinea. ILO is here to assist our partners in improving the work environment, making people more aware of sexual harassment and its negative consequences, and establishing proper mechanisms which can help targets of harassments. Women can only achieve economic empowerment when they have the same rights and opportunities in work as men,” says ms Line Begby, Gender Adviser for ILO.

The training was organized for labour inspectors, trade union representatives and employers in Papua New Guinea. Through interactive discussions, group activities and presentations, the participants learnt what is sex based discrimination, what relevant national and international standards exist, and how to issue and implement policies. The training also gave the participants knowledge on how to initiate measures within their own organizations and structures to prevent that sexual harassment takes place, and to handle cases in a confidential and responsive way. The participants chartered out what the next steps to take are for them, and how they could commit to follow up on the training. ILO is planning to conduct further activities on the issue with the same partners in 2013.