Indian unions launch digital campaigns to start 16 days of anti-VAW activism

In response to the rising incidences of violence against women (VAW) and increasing vulnerabilities of women workers in the middle of a pandemic, BWI, in cooperation with FES, conducted anti-VAW trainings among Indian trade unions and helped plot out their digital campaigns for the 16 Days of Activism against VAW. 

The said trainings sought to build the trade unionists’ capacities and understanding on VAW and its various forms and impacts, and strengthen campaign strategies. It also discussed India’s prevailing legal framework on VAW and the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) Convention 190. 

Twenty (20) trade unionists (10 men and 10 women), representing ten (10) BWI affiliates from India’s nine (9) major States, participated in the trainings, which were led by a panel of gender experts and digital campaigners. The participants produced action plans for the 16 days of activism, which include social media engagements, online workers’ interactions, media releases and video messages. 

The unions also prepared an online petition calling for the ratification of ILO Convention 190 which will be launched after it is officially endorsed by the Indian Affiliates Council. A webinar on trade union responses to VAW is also slated on 8 December to culminate the campaign. 

Kulwant Kaur, Chair of BWI Indian Affiliates Council – National Women’s Committee (IAC-NWC) lauded the efforts of the unions in India and the South Asia sub-region as they join BWI’s 16 days of activism under the theme ‘Safe at Home. Safe at Work.’ 

“This campaign needs to be sustained so that the violence and discrimination faced by women workers are fully addressed and opportunities for trade unionists’ skills and knowledge enhancement on gender issues are maximised,” Kaur said. 

All around the world, there has been a massive increase in the cases of violence committed against women. This crisis, which the United Nations described as a “shadow pandemic,” was exacerbated by the COVID-19 lockdowns imposed on many countries, trapping many women in homes with abusive partners.  

In India alone, the National Commission for Women (NWC) reported a 94 percent rise in domestic violence complaints. The country’s 68-day lockdown (25 March - May 31 2020) recorded more complaints than those received the same period ten years ago.