CESI Secratary General Klaus Heeger said: “Violence against women and girls is still too prevalent – in the EU and beyond, at work and in private life. It can be physical violence or psychological harassment, it can happen in the real world as well as in online forums. As CESI, we stand firm to condemn violence, which is unacceptable in all its forms, regardless of where or when it happens.”

“As CESI, as a confederation representing numerous public sector trade unions across Europe, we recently concluded a major capacity-building project to end specifically third-party violence at the workplace. As a European sectoral social partner, CESI is signatory party of the European multi-sectoral guideliens to tackle third-party violence and harassment related to work and has been involved with eight other European sectoral social partner organisations in a further project on third-party violence. Both projects have shown that this kind of violence is particularly prevalent towards female workers. We need to raise further awareness and support to prevent and manage third-party violence at work, particularly against women.”

“Women can also experience violence or harassment emanating from colleagues or thier management. Many also experience adverse behaviour at home and in private life, as well as in online communities. Beyond activities through social dialogue in the world of work, CESI is therefore a long-standing proponent of a swift accession of the EU to the Istanbul Convention on  preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence and speedy and successful negotiations between the European Parliament and the Council on the European Commission’s recent proposal for a new EU directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence.”

“As CESI, we condemn persistent violence against women and girls around the world. In many countries around the globe, it is even substantially more widespread than in the EU. As the EU, as Europeans, we need to lead by good example and achieve improved gender equality and reduce violence against women and girls.”