Sodexo, one of the world’s largest companies, and the IUF have signed a Declaration of intent to combat domestic violence (available in English and French and Spanish). The agreement, the first in any IUF sectors, recognizes domestic violence as “one of the most widespread and persistent human rights violations” and commits Sodexo and the IUF to work together at international and national levels to mitigate its impacts.
- The World Health Organisation estimates that 1 in 3 women have been subject to domestic violence
- The Declaration recognizes that “Women are disproportionately affected, accounting for nearly 8 out of 10 of those who experience domestic violence” and that women “may also experience difficulties in getting access to social services or the legal support they need”
- It builds on IUF’s on-going work to get recognition of domestic violence as a workplace and trade union issue
- Signing the agreement, IUF General Secretary Sue Longley noted “The scourge of domestic violence also affects the workplace, and employers have a key role to play in providing a safe working environment. The IUF is pleased to sign this Declaration of Intent with Sodexo, the first of its kind since the adoption of the International Labour Organization’s Convention 190 on violence and harassment in the world of work. Aimed at mitigating the impact of domestic violence, this agreement reflects the commitments made by Sodexo, the IUF and its affiliates to ensure workers receive the support they need to move forward”
“By signing this declaration with the IUF, we take a stand to address the alarming prevalence of domestic violence as it has a dramatic impact on workers’ health and safety. As a people company leader in its industry, with our 54% of female workforce, it is our responsibility to build a safe working environment for our employees, by raising awareness among our teams, and developing the appropriate actions to help the most vulnerable ones.”
