How public sector trade unions can address GBV

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9 months ago
9 months ago

How public sector trade unions can address GBV

Public sector unions represent thousands of workers at all levels. These unions have statutory rights to engage with governments and other stakeholders, for example in negotiating policies and collective agreements. Unions are therefore well placed to address gender-based violence (GBV) at work and beyond.

Here are six actions for trade unions wishing to develop or improve their strategies to end GBV. They are based on the experience of teachers’ unions in tackling GBV in schools in seven countries in Africa.

1. Look inward: Empower union members by strengthening internal decision-making structures to end GBV

It is possible to bring about positive change when we are aware of our rights, come together and take action to defend them.

What to do: Change the formal decision-making structures of the union to improve representation and catalyse action to end gender-based violence.

Actions to take:

Mandate specific positions and structures to take forward the work to end GBV at all levels of the trade union.
Strengthen the participation of women in decision-making to promote gender equality.
Create opportunities for young trade union members to organise and address the issue of GBV.
Celebrate members with disabilities and albinism and LGBTI members
Demand accountability from entities responsible for GBV initiatives

Zambia The Zambia National Union of Teachers has amended its constitution to establish youth committees at national and provincial level. The National Youth Committee is made up of five women and five men representing the country's regions. It has a director who reports to the ZNUT Gender Director. Youth committee members take active leadership roles in addressing school-related gender-based violence (SRGBV) in their local areas.

South Africa The National Professional Teachers' Organisation of South Africa (NAPTOSA) Charter of Professionalism states: "NAPTOSA members accept that we are leaders in our communities and recognise that this may require us to speak out when others remain silent; to be innovative in solving problems when others wait for direction; to follow the dictates of our own conscience even when it is inconvenient."

2. Own the issue: Embed the commitment to end GBV in policy frameworks

Embedding the intentions of members in the framing documents that define the union demonstrates the shared goal of ending GBV in the organisation. Affirming and formalising the commitment to work on GBV in policies at all levels ensures that it has lasting legitimacy among union members.

Actions to take:

Adopt formal resolutions on GBV.
Incorporate the union’s commitment to ending GBV into the Constitution.
Update the gender equality policy to include GBV as a target.
Adopt other internal policies to ensure that the union is free from GBV, for example, sexual harassment policies and standing orders.

South Africa The South African Democratic Teachers' Union (SADTU) has updated its gender policy to include "the eradication of gender-based violence and other forms of violence against women, girls and boys" as one of its specific objectives. It also states that addressing SRGBV is "key to achieving gender equality".

Ethiopia Ethiopia Teachers Association Gender Policy states: “The association shall take the necessary measures against its members whenever they are found guilty of committing sexual harassment and provide the necessary support to make the guilty legally liable.”

3. Walk the talk: Resource the union’s GBV initiatives

Find creative and sustainable ways to resource union initiatives to end GBV. Some actions to take to turn union intentions into sustainable action include

Include GBV-related programmes in annual work plans and budgets.
Integrate GBV awareness-raising activities into other existing programmes.
Raise awareness of the issue among members through regular internal communication.
Collect and analyse data on how GBV is understood and experienced by union members.

Uganda The Uganda National Teachers' Union (UNATU) has incorporated SRGBV messages into national campaigns and education programmes. The threat posed by SRGBV to the quality of education and teachers' well-being is highlighted. UNATU has discussed SRGBV and the union's role in addressing it with some 150,000 teachers.

Kenya The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) appointed four classroom teachers in four districts to work on SRGBV in their classrooms, schools and districts. The union tasked these teachers to explore how peer-to-peer interactions at school level could help change the school community. By taking this approach, KNUT has created a ripple effect that's helping to change behaviour and challenge the norms that perpetuate SRGBV.

The Gambia The Gambia Teachers Union (GTU) organises study circles in which chairpersons of schools come together to read and discuss newspaper articles on cases of SRGBV. The chairpersons bring school representatives to the study circles to empower them to start SRGBV clubs with learners in their schools. The GTU has also developed resources on corporal punishment, sexual abuse and how to report incidences.

Ethiopia The Ethiopian Teachers Association's research on violence against girls in secondary schools has informed the union's recommendations to a range of stakeholders, including government ministries. A School Violence Index (SVI) was developed from a complementary study. The SVI provides a user-friendly guide for designing and facilitating a participatory self-assessment of violence by school management, ETA members, learners and the local community.

South Africa SADTU approached Regenesys Business School to tailor a postgraduate diploma in public management for its officials. The course included a module on SRGBV and an action research component to enable better analysis and documentation of the union's GBV initiatives and its handling of specific cases. SADTU then developed a framework to guide future work on SRGBV.

4. Reach out: Build solidarity and alliances

The union can make a significant contribution to tackling GBV by engaging its broad membership. However, it cannot do it alone.

Actions to take:

Work with other trade unions to address GBV.
Engage in multi-stakeholder dialogue to address GBV.
Work with government to shape policies that address GBV.

Ethiopia The Ethiopian Teachers Association is represented on the government's SRGBV complaints, investigations and recommendations committees. This gives ETA the authority to investigate and determine the outcome of SRGBV cases involving both students and members. ETA provides training to its members who sit on these committees.

Zambia The three Education International affiliates in Zambia - BETUZ, SESTUZ and ZNUT - are working closely to end SRGBV. They have coordinated their efforts to ensure that leadership training for tertiary students focuses on young women and SRGBV issues.

The Gambia The Gambia Teachers Union (GTU) uses participatory approaches to support communities to find local solutions to prevent school-related gender-based violence. The Bantaba (traditionally a meeting place under a large tree) brings together members of the community. They sit in a circle and discuss experiences and possible actions in their own language. After each Bantaba, the union also conducts a media outreach to bring the issues raised to a wider audience. The Bantabas are central to the GTU's capacity-building work with women and young people.

5. Break the silence: Engage the media

Engage the media to raise public awareness of gender-based violence..

Sierra Leone The Sierra Leone Teachers' Union (SLTU) is involving local and traditional communicators in its SRGBV campaigns. Working with the town crier, who beats the drum, and with folk singers and musicians, who convey messages through songs, the union has been successful in initiating a discourse on early marriage and teenage pregnancy.

Zambia BETUZ promotes SRGBV awareness through live radio broadcasts. The radio programmes reach teachers, students and the broader community nationwide. As a result, BETUZ has become the most trusted source of information on GBV in schools.

6. Empowering workers: Union members help workers to understand their rights and voice their concerns

Shop stewards can empower workers to prevent and respond to GBV. Workers can become active agents in ending GBV if they understand their rights, learn to recognise GBV, and know who to talk to if they witness or experience abuse.

Uganda As part of its campaign to end child labour and early marriage, the Uganda National Teachers' Union (UNATU) developed and distributed 120 school compound signs, known as Talking Compounds.

Kenya Members of the Kenya National Union of Teachers put 'NO TO SRGBV' posters on classroom doors. They share newspaper articles on SRGBV with students and encourage them to discuss them. Suggestion boxes are set up to allow victims and witnesses of abuse (verbal, emotional or physical) to speak out anonymously.