The International Labour Organization (ILO) Office for Türkiye held in September a series of workshops themed “Trade Union and Private Sector Practices in the Context of ILO Violence and Harassment Convention (No. 190)” for the representatives of TEZKOOP-IS Union, Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions (DISK) and private sector.

The workshops ran as follows: for representatives of TEZKOOP-IS Union in Ankara on 21 September, for representatives of DISK and affiliates in Istanbul on 27 September, and for representatives of the private sector in Istanbul on 28 September.

Prospective concrete steps that could be taken by trade unions and private sector in the context of ILO Violence and Harassment Convention (No. 190) were addressed in those workshops organized under the “More and Better Jobs for Women Programme” implemented by the ILO Office for Türkiye with funding from Sweden.

In this context, experts made presentations and working groups engaged in practical work on how trade unions could incorporate C190-compliant articles/clauses in their policy papers and collective agreements to prevent violence and harassment at work.

Delivering the opening remarks for the workshops, Ms. Ebru Özberk Anlı, Senior Programme Officer at ILO Office for Türkiye, provided information on the Office’s work in general and specific to trade unions in the context of C190 and the Programme.

Attending the workshop on “Trade Union Practices in the Context of C190”, Dr. Mr. Emirali Karadoğan, advisor to the President of TEZKOOP-IS Union, underlined the importance of international treaties such as C190 for the prevention of violence and harassment at work.

Participating in the workshops in Istanbul and delivering remarks, Ms. Arzu Çerkezoğlu, President of DISK emphasized the importance of C190, and provided information on their work on the issue and plans for the future.

The workshop for the private sector addressed how C190-compliant articles/clauses could be incorporated into workplace policy papers, and featured recommendations from the working groups formed for this purpose.

The sessions held by Ms. Canan Güllü, President of Federation of Women Associations of Türkiye (TKDF); Attorney Mr. Umut Şener Çiftçi, TKDF Legal Advisor; Dr. Mr. Ceyhun Güler of Dokuz Eylül University; and Dr. Ms. Seher Demirkaya of Karamanoğlu Mehmet Bey University focused on the scope and importance of C190, what necessary elements the trade union policy papers and collective agreements, and the workplace policy papers by the private sector should include in relation to C190, how they should define violence and harassment, what commitments and grievance mechanisms such instruments should include.

The participants were provided with the booklets “Trade Union Policy Paper on Combating Violence and Harassment” for trade unions, “Workplace Policy Paper on Combating Violence and Harassment” for the private sector and “Application Guidelines for Prevention of Violence and Harassment” prepared for the ILO Office for by the experts contributing to the workshops.

At the end of workshops, all participants were awarded attendance certificates.