ASEAN/WE STRIVE launches campaign to end gender-based workplace exploitation in observance of the 2023 International Women’s Day

[Press release]

The screenshot is taken from the Zoom meeting during the launch event. Illustration: ASEAN

Bangkok, Thailand — ASEAN held a virtual launch of the second phase of the ASEAN/WE STRIVE Campaign to End Gender-Based Workplace Exploitation to celebrate International Women’s Day and to accelerate the implementation of ASEAN Regional Plan of Action on Elimination of Violence Against Women (ASEAN RPA on EVAW).

The campaign is spearheaded by the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Rights of Women and Children (ACWC) in collaboration with the ASEAN Committee for Women (ACW) and the ASEAN Secretariat. It also received joint support from the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative through the UN Women and International Labour Organization, the ASEAN-Australia Political Security Partnership (APSP), implemented by The Asia Foundation; Thailand Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, and DELL Technologies.

Ekkaphab Phanthavong, Deputy Secretary-General for the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community. Illustration: ASEAN

In his opening remarks, Ekkaphab Phanthavong, Deputy Secretary-General for the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community emphasised the importance of recognising violence against women as a violation of human rights. “Guided by the ASEAN’s zero tolerance policy for violence against women, ASEAN is determined to eliminate all forms of violence against women as a matter of priority”, he stressed.

While emphasizing the high costs of sexual harassment and violence to women and the need for effective workplace response and prevention, Ms. Sarah Knibbs, Regional Director a.i. for UN Women Regional Office for Asia and Pacific said in her opening remarks: "As we talk about safe workplaces, it is not just physical workplaces but also digital spaces that should be free from harassment and violence. COVID-19 has reshaped work modalities with a dramatic increase in remote work. Within this context, ensuring the safety of women in online spaces is equally important, which is also aligned with the theme for this year’s International Women’s Day which calls for a safer, more inclusive, and more equitable digital world for all. UN Women is proud to partner with ASEAN to ending violence against women including migrant women and advancing partnerships with the private sector to promote safe and inclusive workplaces”.

Sarah Knibbs, Regional Director a.i. for UN Women Regional Office for Asia and Pacific. Illustration: ASEAN

In her presentation on campaign background, Dr. Ratchada Jayagupta, Thailand’s Representative to the ACWC for Women’s Rights highlighted the risks of violence and harassment against women in the world of work and the key features of the first phase of the campaign which was first launched in 2018, including a planning workshop, development of communication strategy for behavioural change, social media outreach and electronic dance song with the theme Ending Gender-Based Workplace Exploitation. Following the success of the first phase of the campaign and based on the recommendations of the Mid-term Review of the ASEAN RPA on EVAW, the second phase focuses on the roles and responsibilities of employers in the private and business sectors in creating a safe workplace for women and women migrant workers.

“In addition to the roll-out of a survey and development of database of private sector companies, we are launching a pledging portal titled ASEAN/WE STRIVE that offers resources including Women Empowerment Principles resources related to sexual harassment, self-assessments tools etc., and recognises Pledge Partners who are taking action to create safe workplaces for women including migrant women,” said Dr. Jayagupta.

The launch included a briefing on the pledging platform by Tul Pinkaew, Founder and Director of Strategy of Sidekick, a screening of a video montage of quotes from Pledge Partners, and a panel discussion on advancing inclusive and safe workplaces. Aisha Mukhtar, UN Women Programme Specialist, moderated the discussion with panelists including Anne Abraham, Founder and Chair of LeadWomen Malaysia; Do Thi Thuy Huong, Compliance Team Leader, Maxport Limited Viet Nam; Syahid Deradjat, Employee Relations Expert, Pertamina Indonesia; and  Miguel Musngi, Head of the Poverty Eradication and Gender Division of the ASEAN Secretariat. Together, they shared promising practices and tools to promote a safe workplace culture and to prevent gender-based workplace exploitation including piloting of a sexual harassment self-assessment tool, adoption of internal policy and mechanism on reporting sexual harassment, targeted trainings for employees on building respectful workplaces, and identifying the role of the private sector in advancing gender-responsive business conduct.

Jintana Chanbamrung, Director-General of the Department of Women’s Affairs and Family Development, Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, Representative of Thailand to the ACW closed the event by thanking all the participants and campaign partners, and the UN Women for supporting the launch of ASEAN/WE STRIVE campaign. She further called on private sector companies to join the pledge and contribute towards making workplaces safer for women. “Employers, duty bearers in the ILO Convention on Violence and Harassment (No.190, play a critical role in taking measures and should, among others, develop workplace policies on violence and harassment, including against women and those most marginalised,” said Chanbamrung.