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Nine out of 10 men and women are deeply prejudiced against women, says UN report 2023. Nearly half of the world believes men are better leaders than women. The report is based on a survey that covered 85% of the world's population. What do these numbers mean and what do they have to do with today's event?
It means that to this day deep-rooted prejudices are well and truly in place, with the UN Secretary General stating that we need 300 years to reach full and meaningful gender equality. Today's topic under discussion is part of these prejudices, stereotypes as well as violence despite the fact that the global population has mobilized to end forms of violence with #MeToo.
Distinguished Guest(s)
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Friends,
I congratulate the organizers of the event for the initiative and thank you for your invitation and the opportunity to put today's event under the auspices of the Office of the Equality Commissioner. Thanks also to the President and members of the ASWC for their commitment to workers' rights and especially to working conditions as they relate to women.
Friends
In the decades since March 1857, when women workers in the New York textile mills rose up against the social injustices and discrimination they experienced and organized mobilizations demanding humane working conditions, the enduring and fierce struggles of the women's movement worldwide have led to significant gains that have gradually improved the lives of women. Women are now entering the labour market with skills and claims. Unfortunately, at the same time, new phenomena began to appear in the workplace, which wanted and want to maintain the unequal distribution of power between men and women in this area as well. Phenomena such as workplace bullying and sexual harassment endanger not only the health of the victims but also the balance in an organisation. At the same time they establish the patriarchal system which in turn normalises these phenomena of violence.
In 2023 the question of why people engage in bullying behaviours in the workplace has been answered years ago. One word - power. Policies and measures exist. What is missing is prevention and proper implementation.
Workplace bullying refers to repeated, negative behaviors directed at an individual or group of individuals, as I mentioned above, may use bullying as a means to exert dominance, power, control and humiliation over others. More specifically, workplace bullying can: o take a verbal form such as using harsh or derogatory language, shouting or insulting someone in the workplace; o deliberately excluding someone from work-related activities, social events or important conversations; o engaging in gossip or spreading false information about a colleague to damage his/her reputation; and more generally, threatening or aggressive behaviour making someone feel unsafe or fearful in the workplace.
Men and women experience workplace bullying. But women experience it disproportionately and on the basis of their gender. Workplace bullying can have serious negative effects on the individuals involved, including reduced job satisfaction, increased levels of stress, depression and reduced productivity. It can create a toxic work environment and lead to leaving or seeking other employment.
Regarding sexual harassment in the workplace, another phenomenon that women experience disproportionately, stems from deep-rooted inequalities and gender power relations. Sexual harassment is a violation of an individual's rights, it creates an unsafe and hostile work environment that should never be tolerated.
Under the legislation in force in Cyprus, any form of unwanted verbal, psychological or physical conduct of a sexual nature, which violates the dignity of the individual, constitutes sexual harassment. Research and studies show that women always say no, either verbally or indirectly, but usually the person engaging in sexual harassment deliberately ignores the refusal. Instead, we hear comments like "she makes it difficult". Women do what they can to prevent and stop harassment, but if they do not find a supportive environment, help within their organisation/colleagues/siblings they either suffer in silence or quit their jobs.
Research in Greece has shown that 70-80% of women who are harassed in the private sector either quit or are fired, which has an impact on their careers. In the public sector, the norm is to transfer women from the positions where they work and the one who breaks the law remains in his/her position. There is no exemplary punishment for the perpetrators.
In all of the above, however, the employer also has a responsibility to address such behaviour in their organisation. Employers have a responsibility to create policies, to provide training that fosters a culture of equality - mutual respect, to create a safe and confidential reporting environment where employees can report incidents of sexual harassment or bullying without fear of retaliation. Above all, they have a responsibility and must act as a role model.
Friends,
The promotion of equality between men and women and the full guarantee of women's human rights is one of the high priorities of the administration of the President of the Republic, Mr. Nicos Christodoulides. Through a holistic approach, our goal is to create a gender-neutral political, economic and social framework, where we will eliminate gender stereotypes, attitudes and prejudices. Emphasis will be placed on preventive actions. For the first time the project is about policies and actions from top to bottom (top down approach) and not only about corrective actions. In an effort to work holistically and not piecemeal
- We integrate gender equality in education as a basic principle and value of a democratic and European country,
- We promote preventive actions on gender-based violence at all levels of education and in the wider society, on the basis of systematic information campaigns, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and the mass media,
- At the same time the Commission for Gender Equality in Employment and Vocational Training is promoting systematic training on the subject under discussion.
In order for the above to be possible, we need to move forward in consolidating a culture of equality, away from anachronistic prejudices, while at the same time, for victims to be able to report, a supportive environment must be created in which women feel safe and confident.
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II/SX
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